Shloka 42

Kṛṣṇa Visits Indraprastha; Kuntī’s Remembrance; Kālindī and Further Marriages

Devanagari script

किन्‍त्‍वस्माभि: कृत: पूर्वं समय: सात्वतर्षभ । पुंसां वीर्यपरीक्षार्थं कन्यावरपरीप्सया ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

kintv asmābhiḥ kṛtaḥ pūrvaṁ samayaḥ sātvatarṣabha puṁsāṁ vīrya-parīkṣārthaṁ kanyā-vara-parīpsayā

Translation

Nhưng, hỡi bậc tối thượng trong dòng Sātvata, để xác định phu quân xứng đáng cho con gái ta, trước đây chúng ta đã đặt ra một điều kiện—nhằm thử thách dũng lực của các kẻ cầu hôn.

Synonyms

• kintu: but
• kintu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kintu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle/conjunction (निपात)

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Kartr̥-karaṇa (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kṛtaḥ: made
• kṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with samayaḥ

• pūrvam: previously
• pūrvam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूप)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• samayaḥ: agreement/condition
• samayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• sātvata-ṛṣabha: O bull among the Sātvatas
• sātvata-ṛṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sātvata-ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

• puṁsām: of men
• puṁsām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṁs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• vīrya-parīkṣā-artham: for testing valor
• vīrya-parīkṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya-parīkṣā-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; purpose-accusative (प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया)

• kanyā-vara-parīpsayā: with the wish to obtain a bridegroom
• kanyā-vara-parīpsayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā-vara-parīpsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; हेतौ—‘with the desire to obtain a bridegroom’

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the King’s actual purpose in setting up the test was to obtain Śrī Kṛṣṇa as his son-in-law, since only He could subdue the bulls. Without such a test it would have been difficult for Nagnajit to refuse the many apparently qualified princes and kings who came to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about testing a groom’s valor (vīrya) in a svayaṁvara?

This verse states that the elders set a prior condition to test the men’s valor, seeking a worthy husband for the maiden—reflecting a kṣatriya custom of choosing a qualified protector.

Why is Śrī Kṛṣṇa addressed as 'Sātvatarṣabha' in this verse?

The speaker honors Kṛṣṇa as the foremost among the Sātvatas (Yadu dynasty devotees), acknowledging His supreme status while explaining the pre-arranged condition.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It highlights the principle of discernment: important commitments—like marriage—should be based on tested character and capability, not merely impulse or appearance.