Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

गलग्रहणनिश्चेष्टो दैत्यो निर्गतलोचन: । अव्यक्तरावो न्यपतत्सहबालो व्यसुर्व्रजे ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

gala-grahaṇa-niśceṣṭo daityo nirgata-locanaḥ avyakta-rāvo nyapatat saha-bālo vyasur vraje

Translation

Nang hawakan ni Kṛṣṇa ang kanyang leeg, nabulunan ang halimaw at hindi na makakilos; hindi gumalaw ang kamay at paa, walang mailabas na tinig, at lumuluwang ang mga mata. Bumagsak siya sa lupa ng Vraja kasama ang bata at namatay.

Synonyms

• गल-ग्रहण-निश्चेष्टः: rendered motionless by the throat-grip
• गल-ग्रहण-निश्चेष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (ग्रह् धातु-नम्/ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + निश्चेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘गलस्य ग्रहणेन निश्चेष्टः’

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्

• निर्गत-लोचनः: whose eyes had bulged out
• निर्गत-लोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्+गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—‘निर्गते लोचने यस्य सः’

• अव्यक्त-रावः: uttering an indistinct cry
• अव्यक्त-रावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + राव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘अव्यक्तः रावः यस्य’ (विशेषणवत्)

• न्यपतत्: fell down
• न्यपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• सह-बालः: together with the child
• सह-बालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (अव्यय) + बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः—‘बालेन सह’ (with the child)

• व्यसुः: lifeless
• व्यसुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+अस् (धातु) + उण्/क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; ‘विगत-असुः’ इत्यर्थे (lifeless)

• व्रजे: in Vraja
• व्रजे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (the child)
• Tṛṇāvarta (the demon)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna killing the Trinavarta demon?

This verse describes the demon’s death: his throat is seized, his eyes bulge, and he collapses lifeless in Vraja, while the child Kṛṣṇa remains with him—showing the Lord’s effortless victory over evil.

Why did the demon fall down dead in Vraja with the child?

In the Trinavarta episode, the demon carries the child away, but Kṛṣṇa becomes unbearably heavy and restrains him; the demon’s throat is seized and he falls dead, revealing divine protection within Kṛṣṇa’s apparent vulnerability.

What is the practical lesson of this Krishna-lila for modern life?

Even when danger seems overwhelming, remembrance of the Lord and trust in divine protection cultivate steadiness; the Bhagavatam presents Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate refuge who subdues destructive forces beyond ordinary capacity.