Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

इत्याज्ञाप्यार्थतन्त्रज्ञ आहूय यदुपुङ्गवम् । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं ततोऽक्रूरमुवाच ह ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

ity ājñāpyārtha-tantra-jña āhūya yadu-puṅgavam gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṁ tato ’krūram uvāca ha

Translation

如此吩咐群臣之后，善于谋取私利的迦ṁ萨召来雅度族中最杰出的阿克鲁罗，握住他的手，对他说道如下。

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotation particle (इति-प्रयोग), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• ājñāpya: having ordered
• ājñāpya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ājñā (आज्ञा, प्रातिपदिक) + √āp (आप्/आप्नोति, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), having ordered/commanded; from causative sense ‘to order’ (आज्ञापयति)

• artha-tantra-jñaḥ: the knower of political strategy
• artha-tantra-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (अर्थ, प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (तन्त्र, प्रातिपदिक) + jña (ज्ञ, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; compound: अर्थतन्त्रज्ञः = ‘knower of policy/expedients’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समास)

• āhūya: having summoned
• āhūya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√hū (ह्वा/आह्वान, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having summoned/called

• yadu-puṅgavam: the foremost of the Yadus
• yadu-puṅgavam: Karma (कर्म/object of āhūya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (यदु, प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (पुङ्गव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; compound: यदुपुङ्गवम् = ‘best of the Yadus’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• gṛhītvā: having taken
• gṛhītvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (ग्रह्, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having taken/held

• pāṇinā: with (his) hand
• pāṇinā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (पाणि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

• pāṇim: (the other’s) hand
• pāṇim: Karma (कर्म/object of gṛhītvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (पाणि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Desha-kala-adhikarana (देश-काल-अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (ततः, अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable

• akrūram: Akrūra
• akrūram: Karma (कर्म/object of uvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akrūra (अक्रूर, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular; parasmaipada

• ha: indeed/forsooth
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (ह, अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), indeclinable; narrative emphasis

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Akrūra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kaṁsa’s use of political strategy?

This verse describes Kaṁsa as artha-tantra-jña—expert in statecraft—showing how he carefully plans and executes orders to further his aims.

Why did Kaṁsa take Akrūra’s hand and speak to him?

Kaṁsa outwardly shows warmth and trust—holding Akrūra’s hand—while preparing to assign him a significant mission in the unfolding narrative.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It highlights how outward gestures can accompany serious responsibilities; a devotee learns discernment—judging situations by purpose and character, not merely appearances.