Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 31

The Killing of Keśī and Vyomāsura; Nārada’s Prophetic Praise of Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

स निजं रूपमास्थाय गिरीन्द्रसद‍ृशं बली । इच्छन्विमोक्तुमात्मानं नाशक्नोद्ग्रहणातुर: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

sa nijaṁ rūpam āsthāya girīndra-sadṛśaṁ balī icchan vimoktum ātmānaṁ nāśaknod grahaṇāturaḥ

Translation

Nagbalik ang asura sa tunay niyang anyo, kasinglaki at kasinglakas ng isang bundok. Ngunit kahit pilitin niyang makawala, hindi niya nagawa, sapagkat naubos ang lakas niya sa mahigpit na pagkakahawak ng Panginoon.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निजम्: his own
• निजम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘own’ (qualifies rūpam)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), आ-उपसर्ग; ‘having assumed/taken’

• गिरीन्द्रसदृशम्: like a mountain-king
• गिरीन्द्रसदृशम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरीन्द्र + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गिरीन्द्रस्य सदृशम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘like the lord of mountains’

• बली: strong
• बली: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘strong’

• इच्छन्: wishing
• इच्छन्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘wishing’

• विमोक्तुम्: to free
• विमोक्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Prayojana/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive, वि-उपसर्ग; ‘to release/free’

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अशक्नोत्: was not able
• अशक्नोत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; न-निषेधेन सह ‘न अशक्नोत्’

• ग्रहणातुरः: distressed by capture
• ग्रहणातुरः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रहण + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ग्रहणेन आतुरः ‘distressed by being seized’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Keśī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.37.31 say about Keśī’s strength and defeat?

It describes Keśī taking his own immense, mountain-like form and struggling to free himself, yet failing because he was firmly seized—showing that even great demonic power cannot overcome Kṛṣṇa.

Who is speaking this verse in the Bhagavatam, and in what context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks to King Parīkṣit while narrating Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja-līlā, specifically the episode of Kṛṣṇa subduing and killing the demon Keśī sent to terrorize Vṛndāvana.

What practical lesson can a devotee take from this verse today?

Rely on the Lord’s protection: material strength and intimidation may appear overwhelming, but devotion and surrender to Kṛṣṇa remind one that divine shelter is ultimately stronger than any obstacle.