Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

गृहीत्वा श‍ृङ्गयोस्तं वा अष्टादश पदानि स: । प्रत्यपोवाह भगवान् गज: प्रतिगजं यथा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhītvā śṛṅgayos taṁ vā aṣṭādaśa padāni saḥ pratyapovāha bhagavān gajaḥ prati-gajaṁ yathā

Translation

Верховный Господь Кришна схватил Аришту за оба рога и отбросил его назад на восемнадцать шагов, как слон отталкивает слона-соперника в схватке.

Synonyms

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• शृङ्गयोः: of the two horns
• शृङ्गयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; here षष्ठी (genitive): ‘of the two horns’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• वा: indeed/or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or/indeed)

• अष्टादश: eighteen
• अष्टादश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; द्विगु-समास (अष्ट + दश) used as numeral adjective; here qualifying ‘पदानि’

• पदानि: steps
• पदानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रत्यपोवाह: drove back/dragged back
• प्रत्यपोवाह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + अप + √वह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गजः: an elephant
• गजः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमानवाचक

• प्रतिगजम्: against another elephant
• प्रतिगजम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + गज (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गपूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: प्रतिगजम् = गजं प्रति (towards/against an elephant)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Ariṣṭāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna defeating Arishtasura?

In this verse, Krishna grips the demon by his horns and drags him back eighteen steps, illustrating the Lord’s effortless supremacy over even powerful asuras.

Why did Krishna seize Arishtasura by the horns?

Arishtasura attacked in the form of a ferocious bull; Krishna counters directly by controlling the bull’s horns, turning the demon’s own strength into defeat within the Vrindavan pastime.

Practical application of Krishna’s victory over demons in modern life?

The verse inspires devotees to rely on Krishna’s protection and to confront inner “demons” (fear, pride, anger) with steadiness, remembering that divine support is stronger than any obstacle.