Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 43

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

अष्टादशमसङ्ग्राम आगामिनि तदन्तरा । नारदप्रेषितो वीरो यवन: प्रत्यद‍ृश्यत ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭādaśama saṅgrāma āgāmini tad-antarā nārada-preṣito vīro yavanaḥ pratyadṛśyata

Translation

Khi trận chiến thứ mười tám sắp diễn ra, đúng lúc ấy, dũng sĩ Yavana tên Kālayavana—do Nārada sai đến—đã xuất hiện trên chiến địa.

Synonyms

• aṣṭādaśamaḥ: eighteenth
• aṣṭādaśamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭādaśama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (singular); ordinal adjective qualifying saṅgrāmaḥ

• saṅgrāmaḥ: battle
• saṅgrāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject of implied 'was to occur'

• āgāmini: (when) impending/approaching
• āgāmini: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (locative, 7th), Ekavacana; locative absolute/temporal: 'when (it was) about to come'

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka (neuter), Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (nom/acc), Ekavacana; used with antarā as demonstrative 'that'

• antarā: in the meantime; in between
• antarā: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (काल/देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antarā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable), adverb/preposition meaning 'in between/during the interval'

• nārada-preṣitaḥ: sent by Nārada
• nārada-preṣitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārada + preṣita (कृदन्त; √preṣ (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; kta-participle 'sent' with agent in compound: 'sent by Nārada'

• vīraḥ: hero/warrior
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; apposition to yavanaḥ

• yavanaḥ: the Yavana (foreigner/Greek)
• yavanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject of pratyadṛśyata

• pratyadṛśyata: appeared; came into view
• pratyadṛśyata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada; passive/intransitive sense: 'appeared/was seen'

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Yavana (Kālayavana)

FAQs

Who is the Yavana mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.50.43?

The “Yavana” here refers to Kālayavana, a powerful foreign king who arrives at Mathurā as part of the unfolding divine plan.

Why did Nārada Muni send Kālayavana in the Bhagavatam story?

Nārada’s actions often catalyze Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes; here he helps set events in motion so Kṛṣṇa’s larger purpose—protecting devotees and managing the burden of hostile kings—can unfold.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Even disruptive events can be part of a higher arrangement; a devotee learns to respond with steadiness and dharmic intelligence rather than fear.