Shloka 28
The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā
चाणूरे मुष्टिके कूटे शले तोशलके हते । शेषा: प्रदुद्रुवुर्मल्ला: सर्वे प्राणपरीप्सव: ॥ २८ ॥
cāṇūre muṣṭike kūṭe śale tośalake hate śeṣāḥ pradudruvur mallāḥ sarve prāṇa-parīpsavaḥ
చాణూరుడు, ముష్టికుడు, కూటుడు, శలుడు, తోశలకుడు హతులైన తరువాత మిగిలిన మల్లులందరూ ప్రాణాలు కాపాడుకోవాలని పారిపోయారు।
FAQs
After Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośalaka are slain, the remaining wrestlers flee, terrified and intent on saving their own lives.
Seeing the foremost fighters defeated by Kṛṣṇa (and Balarāma in the broader episode), they realize they cannot prevail and become prāṇa-parīpsavaḥ—focused only on self-preservation.
When arrogance and violence are checked by higher truth, fear-driven allies often abandon the cause—so one should take shelter of dharma and devotion rather than relying on power, intimidation, or corrupt support.