Shloka 20

Utthāna Ceremony, Śakaṭa-bhañga, Tṛṇāvarta-vadha, and the Vision of the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth

Devanagari script

दैत्यो नाम्ना तृणावर्त: कंसभृत्य: प्रणोदित: । चक्रवातस्वरूपेण जहारासीनमर्भकम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

daityo nāmnā tṛṇāvartaḥ kaṁsa-bhṛtyaḥ praṇoditaḥ cakravāta-svarūpeṇa jahārāsīnam arbhakam

Translation

కంసుని సేవకుడైన తృణావర్త అనే దైత్యుడు, కంసుని ప్రేరణతో, చక్రవాతరూపం ధరించి నేలపై కూర్చున్న శిశువును సులభంగా ఎత్తుకుపోయాడు.

Synonyms

• दैत्यः: a demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; ‘by name’ इत्यर्थे

• तृणावर्तः: Tṛṇāvarta
• तृणावर्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृणावर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कंसभृत्यः: servant of Kaṁsa
• कंसभृत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस + भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कंसस्य भृत्यः

• प्रणोदितः: impelled/urged
• प्रणोदितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नुद् (धातु) → प्रणोदित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• चक्रवातस्वरूपेण: in the form of a whirlwind
• चक्रवातस्वरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रवात + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: चक्रवातस्य स्वरूपम्

• जहार: carried off
• जहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आसीनम्: sitting
• आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) → आसीन (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), अर्भकम् इति विशेषण

• अर्भकम्: the infant
• अर्भकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Purport

Kṛṣṇa’s heaviness was unbearable for the child’s mother, but when Tṛṇāvartāsura came, he immediately carried the child away. This was another demonstration of Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable energy. When the Tṛṇāvarta demon came, Kṛṣṇa became lighter than the grass so that the demon could carry Him away. This was ānanda-cinmaya-rasa, Kṛṣṇa’s blissful, transcendental pleasure.

Characters & Entities

• Tṛṇāvarta
• Kaṁsa
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Trinavarta demon?

In Canto 10, Chapter 7, Śukadeva describes Tṛṇāvarta as a demon servant of Kaṁsa who came in the form of a whirlwind to abduct the infant Kṛṣṇa.

Why did Kaṁsa send Tṛṇāvarta to Vraja to attack baby Krishna?

Kaṁsa, fearing the prophecy of his death, repeatedly sent demons to eliminate Kṛṣṇa; Tṛṇāvarta was one such agent dispatched to kill or seize the child.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection in modern life?

The verse reinforces trust that sincere devotion brings divine shelter—encouraging steadiness in spiritual practice even when life feels like a “whirlwind” of obstacles.