Shloka 32

The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

घातयिष्य इहानीतौ कालकल्पेन हस्तिना । यदि मुक्तौ ततो मल्लैर्घातये वैद्युतोपमै: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

ghātayiṣya ihānītau kāla-kalpena hastinā yadi muktau tato mallair ghātaye vaidyutopamaiḥ

Translation

Sau khi ngươi đưa Kṛṣṇa và Balarāma đến đây, ta sẽ cho con voi của ta, mạnh như thần chết, giết chết Họ. Và nếu Họ may mắn thoát khỏi nó, ta sẽ cho các đô vật của ta, mạnh như sấm sét, giết chết Họ.

Synonyms

• घातयिष्ये: I shall cause to be killed / I will have (them) killed
• घातयिष्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (धातु; णिच् causative of √हन्)
• Form: लृट् (Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• आनीतौ: (the two) brought
• आनीतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-नी (धातु) + नीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual); ‘brought’ qualifying two persons

• काल-कल्पेन: by one like Time (Death)
• काल-कल्पेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (कालस्य कल्पः/like Time); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• हस्तिना: by an elephant
• हस्तिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• मुक्तौ: (if the two are) released
• मुक्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + मुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual); ‘released/freed’

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)/Sequence
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमसूचक (then/from that)

• मल्लैः: by wrestlers
• मल्लैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• घातये: I shall have (them) killed
• घातये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (धातु; णिच् causative of √हन्)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सदृश प्रयोग (injunctive/optative sense in context), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative

• वैद्युत-उपमैः: by (wrestlers) like lightning
• वैद्युत-उपमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैद्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (विद्युतः उपमा/like lightning); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; qualifying ‘मल्लैः’

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kaṁsa’s plan to kill Kṛṣṇa in Mathurā?

This verse records Kaṁsa’s intent to have Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma killed first by a deathlike elephant and, if they escape, by lightning-strong wrestlers.

Why did Kaṁsa say he would use an elephant and then wrestlers against Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma?

In the Mathurā arena plot, Kaṁsa sets layered traps—public spectacle plus lethal force—so that even if one attempt fails, another will finish the task.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It highlights how fear and envy create escalating schemes; a devotee learns steadiness and reliance on dharma, recognizing that intimidation often comes in “multiple stages.”