Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā

Devanagari script

किं न पश्यत रामस्य मुखमाताम्रलोचनम् । मुष्टिकं प्रति सामर्षं हाससंरम्भशोभितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

kiṁ na paśyata rāmasya mukham ātāmra-locanam muṣṭikaṁ prati sāmarṣaṁ hāsa-saṁrambha-śobhitam

Translation

Hindi ba ninyo nakikita ang mukha ni Rāma (Balarāma)? Namumula na parang tanso ang Kanyang mga mata sa galit kay Muṣṭika, at lalo pang gumaganda dahil sa ngiti at pagkalubog sa laban.

Synonyms

• किम्: why/what
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle), here ‘why/what’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• पश्यत: see (you all)
• पश्यत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रामस्य: of Rama (Balarama)
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आताम्रलोचनम्: with reddish eyes
• आताम्रलोचनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-ताम्र-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आताम्राणि लोचनानि यस्य/यत्) used as adjective to मुखम्

• मुष्टिकम्: (towards) Muṣṭika
• मुष्टिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of prati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards/against
• प्रति: Sampradana/Direction (सम्प्रदान/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय (preposition), ‘towards/against’

• सामर्षम्: angry
• सामर्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अमर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘with anger/indignation’ qualifying मुखम्

• हाससंरम्भशोभितम्: adorned with laughter and ardor
• हाससंरम्भशोभितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हास-संरम्भ-शोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (हाससंरम्भेण शोभितम् = adorned by laughter and vehemence); ‘शोभित’ = शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) क्त

Characters & Entities

• Balarama
• Mustika

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Balarama’s mood in the wrestling arena?

This verse describes Balarama’s intense, righteous combat-mood—his copper-red eyes and fierce determination—directed at the wrestler Muṣṭika, showing divine strength engaged to oppose adharma.

Why is Balarama described with copper-red eyes in Bhagavatam 10.44?

The copper-red eyes indicate heightened intensity and controlled divine anger as Balarama confronts a violent opponent, emphasizing the seriousness of the dharmic confrontation in Kaṁsa’s arena.

Practical application: what can we learn from Balarama’s expression and stance here?

The verse teaches steadiness and courage: when facing injustice, one can act firmly and decisively—without losing inner purpose—just as Balarama confronts wrongdoing with focused strength.