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Shloka 57

Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)

बाल एव महाबाहुश्चकार कदनं महत्‌ । कंसस्य पुण्डरीकाक्षो ज्ञातित्राणार्थकारणात्‌,महाबाहु कमलनयन श्रीकृष्णने बचपनमें ही अपने बन्धु-बान्धवोंकी रक्षाके लिये कंसका बड़ा भारी संहार किया था

bāla eva mahābāhuś cakāra kadanaṃ mahat | kaṃsasya puṇḍarīkākṣo jñātitrāṇārthakāraṇāt ||

Bhīṣma nói: Ngay khi còn là một đứa trẻ, Krishna—bậc đại lực với cánh tay hùng mạnh, đôi mắt như hoa sen—đã gây nên sự diệt trừ lớn lao đối với Kamsa, vì mục đích che chở thân tộc của mình. Bởi vậy, sức mạnh khi được dùng để bảo vệ người vô tội và gìn giữ trật tự chính đáng có thể là một nhu cầu hợp với dharma, chứ không chỉ là bạo lực thuần túy.

बालःa boy; as a child
बालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
एवindeed; just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
महाबाहुःmighty-armed
महाबाहुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबाहु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चकारdid; made
चकार:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
कदनम्slaughter; destruction
कदनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकदन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
महत्great; huge
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कंसस्यof Kaṃsa
कंसस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootकंस
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
पुण्डरीकाक्षःlotus-eyed (one)
पुण्डरीकाक्षः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्डरीकाक्ष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ज्ञातित्राणार्थकारणात्because of the reason (of acting) for the protection of kinsmen
ज्ञातित्राणार्थकारणात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootज्ञाति-त्राण-अर्थ-कारण
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
Krishna (Shri Krishna, Puṇḍarīkākṣa)
K
Kamsa
K
Krishna's kinsmen (jñātayaḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames Krishna’s slaying of Kamsa as an act motivated by protection of relatives and the vulnerable. Ethically, it suggests that harsh action can be justified when it is undertaken for safeguarding others and restraining tyranny, aligning power with dharma rather than personal hatred.

Bhishma cites Krishna’s early-life deed: though still a child, Krishna brought about Kamsa’s downfall. He emphasizes the motive—rescuing and protecting Krishna’s own people—using Krishna as an exemplar of protective, dharma-oriented action.