Shloka 38
Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena
बाला वयं तुल्यबलै: क्रीडिष्यामो यथोचितम् । भवेन्नियुद्धं माधर्म: स्पृशेन्मल्ल सभासद: ॥ ३८ ॥
bālā vayaṁ tulya-balaiḥ krīḍiṣyāmo yathocitam bhaven niyuddhaṁ mādharmaḥ spṛśen malla-sabhā-sadaḥ
Somos apenas meninos e devemos brincar como convém com quem tenha força igual. Que a luta transcorra segundo o dharma, para que a irreligião não macule os respeitáveis presentes.
FAQs
This verse shows that even in a public sport like wrestling, the standard of dharma is fairness—matching equals and avoiding adharma (injustice) disguised as entertainment.
Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as youthful boys and the wrestlers as powerful professionals, the audience appealed for a match with equal strength so the contest would remain proper and not turn into adharma.
Choose fair standards in competition—avoid exploiting unequal power, and speak up when rules or systems become unjust, even if the setting is “just a game” or public spectacle.