Shloka 37

The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

एतज्ज्ञात्वानय क्षिप्रं रामकृष्णाविहार्भकौ । धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थं द्रष्टुं यदुपुरश्रियम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

etaj jñātvānaya kṣipraṁ rāma-kṛṣṇāv ihārbhakau dhanur-makha-nirīkṣārthaṁ draṣṭuṁ yadu-pura-śriyam

Translation

माझा हेतू जाणून तू त्वरित जाऊन बालक राम व कृष्ण यांना घेऊन ये. त्यांनी धनुर्मख पाहावा आणि यदुपुरीची श्रीसमृद्धी अनुभवावी.

Synonyms

• एतत्: this (matter/thing)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having known’

• आनय: bring
• आनय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) उपसर्ग-आ + लोट्
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• रामकृष्णौ: Rama and Krishna
• रामकृष्णौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक/adverb of place)

• अर्भकौ: the two boys
• अर्भकौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘boys/children’ (apposition to रामकृष्णौ)

• धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थम्: for the purpose of seeing the bow-sacrifice
• धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मख (प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ

• यदुपुरश्रियम्: the splendor of the Yadu city (Mathura)
• यदुपुरश्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (श्री), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘the splendor of Yadu-city’

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Balarāma (Rāma)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Yadus
• Mathurā

FAQs

Why did Kaṁsa call Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Kaṁsa summons Them to Mathurā under the pretext of the Dhanur-yajña, intending to draw Them into his city and arrange Their harm, while presenting it outwardly as a festive invitation.

What is the Dhanur-makha (Dhanur-yajña) mentioned in Bhagavatam 10.36?

It refers to a ceremonial festival centered on a great bow-sacrifice; Kaṁsa uses this public occasion as a cover to invite Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā.

Practical application: what does this verse teach devotees today?

It highlights how worldly motives can hide behind religious or festive appearances; a devotee learns discernment, while trusting that Bhagavān’s presence ultimately overturns harmful intentions.