Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

मञ्चा: क्रियन्तां विविधा मल्लरङ्गपरिश्रिता: । पौरा जानपदा: सर्वे पश्यन्तु स्वैरसंयुगम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

mañcāḥ kriyantāṁ vividhā malla-raṅga-pariśritāḥ paurā jānapadāḥ sarve paśyantu svaira-saṁyugam

Translation

మల్లయుద్ధ వేదిక చుట్టూ అనేక రకాల వీక్షణ వేదికలను నిర్మించండి. నగర మరియు గ్రామీణ ప్రాంతాల ప్రజలందరూ ఈ బహిరంగ పోటీని వీక్షించనివ్వండి.

Synonyms

• मञ्चाः: platforms/seats
• मञ्चाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• क्रियन्ताम्: let (them) be made
• क्रियन्ताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘let them be made’

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण मञ्चाः

• मल्लरङ्गपरिश्रिताः: placed around the wrestling arena
• मल्लरङ्गपरिश्रिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल्ल + रङ्ग + परि-√श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त); समास
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, क्त) ‘परिश्रित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण मञ्चाः; तत्पुरुष: ‘मल्लरङ्गं परिश्रिताः’ (situated around the wrestling arena)

• पौराः: townspeople
• पौराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• जानपदाः: country folk
• जानपदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पौराः जानपदाः)

• पश्यन्तु: let them see
• पश्यन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वैरसंयुगम्: the free combat
• स्वैरसंयुगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वैर + संयुग (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘स्वैरं संयुगम्’ (a free/at-will combat)

Purport

The word mañcāḥ refers to platforms constructed with large pillars. Kaṁsa wanted a festive atmosphere so that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would not be afraid to come.

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kaṁsa’s preparations for the wrestling match in Mathurā?

This verse describes Kaṁsa ordering that various seating platforms be built around the wrestling arena so that citizens and people from nearby regions can comfortably watch the contest.

Why did Kaṁsa arrange seating for the public around the wrestling arena?

Kaṁsa wanted a grand public spectacle of the match, drawing both city residents and countryside people to witness the combat—part of his orchestrated plan surrounding Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s arrival in Mathurā.

What is a practical takeaway from this shloka for modern life?

It highlights how public events can be carefully staged for mass attention; a devotee can apply discernment—looking beyond spectacle to the deeper spiritual purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s līlā.