Shloka 28
Kṛṣṇa Kills Dantavakra; Balarāma’s Pilgrimage and the Slaying of Romaharṣaṇa
एतावदुक्त्वा भगवान् निवृत्तोऽसद्वधादपि । भावित्वात् तं कुशाग्रेण करस्थेनाहनत् प्रभु: ॥ २८ ॥
etāvad uktvā bhagavān nivṛtto ’sad-vadhād api bhāvitvāt taṁ kuśāgreṇa kara-sthenāhanat prabhuḥ
అలా పలికి, భగవంతుడు దుష్టులను సంహరించడం మానివేసినప్పటికీ, రోమహర్షణుని మరణం అనివార్యం. అందువల్ల, ప్రభువు తన చేతిలో ఉన్న దర్భ గడ్డి కొనతో అతన్ని తాకి సంహరించాడు.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Lord Balarāma had avoided taking part in the Battle of Kurukṣetra, and yet because of His position as an incarnation, the reestablishment of religious principles was His prime duty. Considering these points, He killed Romaharṣaṇa Sūta simply by striking him with a kuśa straw, which was nothing but a blade of grass. If someone questions how Lord Balarāma could kill Romaharṣaṇa Sūta simply by striking him with a blade of kuśa grass, the answer is given in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by the use of the word prabhu, ‘master.’ The Lord’s position is always transcendental, and because He is omnipotent He can act as He likes without being obliged to follow the material laws and principles. Thus it was possible for Him to kill Romaharṣaṇa Sūta simply by striking him with a blade of kuśa grass.”
FAQs
The verse highlights two truths: the Lord is not compelled to kill out of anger, yet the unfolding of destiny (bhāvitvāt) proceeds, and the Lord executes it effortlessly.
It shows the Lord’s supreme power—He needs no weapon; even a simple blade of grass becomes decisive in His hands, emphasizing His transcendence over material means.
Do your duty without hatred or obsession over outcomes, trusting that results unfold under divine arrangement while you maintain devotion and right conduct.