Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

ततो मुष्टिकचाणूरशलतोशलकादिकान् । अमात्यान् हस्तिपांश्चैव समाहूयाह भोजराट् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tato muṣṭika-cāṇūra śala-tośalakādikān amātyān hastipāṁś caiva samāhūyāha bhoja-rāṭ

Translation

随后，婆阇之王召集以穆什提迦、恰努罗、沙拉、托沙拉等为首的诸大臣，并召来象夫。国王遂对他们说道如下。

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘then/thereupon’

• muṣṭika-cāṇūra-śala-tośalaka-ādikān: Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośalaka and others
• muṣṭika-cāṇūra-śala-tośalaka-ādikān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭika (प्रातिपदिक) + cāṇūra (प्रातिपदिक) + śala (प्रातिपदिक) + tośalaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समूह + ‘ādika’ (etc.); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• amātyān: ministers
• amātyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• hastipān: elephant-keepers
• hastipān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hastipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: also/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis ‘indeed/also’

• samāhūya: having summoned
• samāhūya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√hū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having summoned’

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said’

• bhoja-rāṭ: the Bhoja king (Kaṁsa)
• bhoja-rāṭ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoja (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan/rāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘king of the Bhojas’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Muṣṭika
• Cāṇūra
• Śala
• Tośalaka

FAQs

Why did Kaṁsa summon Muṣṭika and Cāṇūra in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse Kaṁsa gathers the wrestlers and his officials to execute his scheme in the arena—using powerful fighters (and other forces) to confront Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 10.36.21?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, describing Kaṁsa’s preparations in Mathurā.

What practical lesson can a devotee take from Kaṁsa’s preparations?

Worldly power often organizes elaborate plans, yet the Lord’s will ultimately prevails; devotees can stay steady in faith, remembering that divine protection is stronger than intimidation.