The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā
तैस्तैर्नियुद्धविधिभिर्विविधैरच्युतेतरौ । युयुधाते यथान्योन्यं तथैव बलमुष्टिकौ ॥ १९ ॥
tais tair niyuddha-vidhibhir vividhair acyutetarau yuyudhāte yathānyonyaṁ tathaiva bala-muṣṭikau
Balarāma, irmão de Acyuta, e Muṣṭika lutaram entre si exibindo diversas técnicas de luta, do mesmo modo que Śrī Kṛṣṇa combatia o seu oponente.
This verse describes Kṛṣṇa and His opponent engaging in many regulated wrestling techniques, while Balarāma simultaneously fights Muṣṭika—showing the Lord’s mastery within human-like līlā while preparing to remove the forces of adharma.
Acyuta means “the infallible one”—even while participating in a worldly contest like wrestling, Kṛṣṇa never deviates from His divine purpose of protecting the righteous and defeating the wicked.
The verse encourages disciplined effort and courage: face challenges with proper method and steadiness, remembering that dharma is upheld through determined, skillful action aligned with higher purpose.