Shloka 34

Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः

Devanagari script

गोपतिस्तालकेतुश्न त्वया विनिहतावुभौ । तां च भोगवतीं पुण्यामृषिकान्तां जनार्दन

Transliteration

gopatistālaketūś ca tvayā vinihatāv ubhau | tāṁ ca bhogavatīṁ puṇyām ṛṣikāntāṁ janārdana

Translation

அர்ஜுனன் கூறினான்— ஜனார்தனனே! கோபதி மற்றும் தால்கேது— இவ்விருவரையும் நீங்கள் கொன்றீர்கள்; மேலும் முனிவர்களுக்குப் பிரியமான அந்தப் புனித போகவதியையும் நீங்கள் வென்று அடக்கினீர்கள்.

Word by Word

गोपतिःthe lord of cows (a cowherd-chief)

तालकेतुःhe whose banner is a palm-tree (name/epithet)

चand

त्वयाby you

विनिहतौslain/killed

उभौboth

ताम्her/that (f.)

चand

भोगवतीम्possessing enjoyment/wealth; prosperous

पुण्याम्holy, virtuous

ऋषिकान्ताम्beloved of a rishi / rishi’s beloved (a woman)

जनार्दनO Janārdana (Krishna/Vishnu)

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)

Gopati

Tālketu

Bhogavatī

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames righteous strength as protective: the Lord’s power is praised not merely for victory, but for removing harmful opponents and safeguarding what is sacred and revered by sages.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna addresses Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana), recalling earlier feats: Kṛṣṇa’s slaying of two figures named Gopati and Tālketu, and his securing/subduing of the holy Bhogavatī, described as dear to the sages.