Shloka 12

Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba

Devanagari script

तं बद्ध्वा विरथीकृत्य कृच्छ्रेण कुरवो युधि । कुमारं स्वस्य कन्यां च स्वपुरं जयिनोऽविशन् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ baddhvā virathī-kṛtya kṛcchreṇa kuravo yudhi kumāraṁ svasya kanyāṁ ca sva-puraṁ jayino ’viśan

Translation

യുദ്ധത്തിൽ സാമ്ബനെ വിരഥനാക്കി കുരുക്കൾ വലിയ പ്രയാസത്തോടെ അവനെ കെട്ടിപ്പിടിച്ചു. പിന്നെ വിജയികളായി ആ കുമാരനെയും അവരുടെ രാജകുമാരിയെയും കൂട്ടിക്കൊണ്ട് സ്വന്തം നഗരത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിച്ചു।

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• विरथी-कृत्य: having made (him) chariotless
• विरथी-कृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव; causative sense ‘making (him) chariotless’

• कृच्छ्रेण: with difficulty
• कृच्छ्रेण: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (with difficulty)

• कुरवः: the Kurus
• कुरवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in battle’

• कुमारम्: the prince
• कुमारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वस्य: of their own
• स्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनामवत्)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; आत्मीयवाचक (reflexive genitive: of their own)

• कन्याम्: the maiden/daughter
• कन्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्व-पुरम्: their own city
• स्व-पुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य पुरम्)

• जयिनः: as victors
• जयिनः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक (victors)

• अविशन्: entered
• अविशन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kuravas (the Kurus)
• Aniruddha
• Bāṇāsura’s daughter (Uṣā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Aniruddha being captured?

This verse states that the Kurus bound the young prince (Aniruddha), forcibly removed him from his chariot in battle, and returned to their city as victors, taking him and their daughter with them.

Why did the Kurus take the young prince and their daughter back to their city?

In the narrative context of Canto 10, the Kurus treat the outcome as a military victory and bring the captured prince along with their daughter, indicating a conflict involving royal honor, alliance, and the repercussions of the lovers’ episode.

Practical application of the Bhagavatam’s battle episodes in modern life?

Even in conflict, outcomes can shift quickly; this verse highlights the importance of humility, preparedness, and remembering that worldly victory is temporary compared to devotion and higher dharma.