Shloka 10
Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena
ततोऽभिमुखमभ्येत्य पाणिनाहत्य वारणम् । प्राद्रवन् पातयामास स्पृश्यमान: पदे पदे ॥ १० ॥
tato ’bhimakham abhyetya pāṇināhatya vāraṇam prādravan pātayām āsa spṛśyamānaḥ pade pade
Então Kṛṣṇa foi de frente ao elefante, deu-lhe uma palmada com a mão e saiu correndo. Kuvalayāpīḍa o perseguiu, quase tocando-o a cada passo, mas Kṛṣṇa o ludibriou e o fez tropeçar e cair.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa confronting the elephant directly and striking it with His hand, causing it to stumble and fall repeatedly—showing Kṛṣṇa’s effortless supremacy before the Kaṁsa-līlā climax.
Kuvalayāpīḍa was placed as an obstacle by Kaṁsa; Kṛṣṇa’s direct approach displays His fearlessness and His intent to remove every barrier before confronting Kaṁsa.
Face obstacles without hesitation and with steadiness; when one takes shelter of the Lord (or acts in dharma with courage), even overwhelming challenges lose their power step by step.