Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 13

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तमासाद्य भगवान् मधुसूदन: । निगृह्य पाणिना हस्तं पातयामास भूतले ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tam āpatantam āsādya bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ nigṛhya pāṇinā hastaṁ pātayām āsa bhū-tale

Translation

至上主、诛魔者摩杜苏丹迎向扑来的大象，一手擒住其象鼻，将它摔倒在地。

Synonyms

• तम्: him (the elephant)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आपतन्तम्: rushing/falling upon (him)
• आपतन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√पत् (धातु) → आपतन्त् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तम्-विशेषण

• आसाद्य: having reached/encountered
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having met/come up to’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मधुसूदनः: slayer of Madhu
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition to भगवान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मधोः सूदनः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपनाम

• निगृह्य: having restrained/seized
• निगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having seized/checked’

• पाणिना: with (his) hand
• पाणिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• हस्तम्: the trunk/hand (of the elephant)
• हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पातयामास: caused to fall / felled
• पातयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) → पातय (णिच् causative) + आस् (धातु)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातु ‘पातयति’ + ‘आस’ परिप्रयोग (periphrastic perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू-तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूः तलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa / Madhusūdana)

FAQs

What happens in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.43.13?

Kṛṣṇa confronts the attacker as he charges, firmly grips his hand, and throws him to the ground—showing effortless divine mastery in the wrestling arena.

Why is Krishna called Madhusudana in this verse?

The name “Madhusūdana” highlights Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord who destroys powerful evil; it emphasizes that His victory in the arena is not ordinary athletic skill but divine supremacy.

What is the practical lesson for devotees from Krishna throwing down His opponent?

A devotee remembers that the Lord can restrain and remove obstacles instantly; faith grows by trusting Kṛṣṇa’s protection and remaining steady in dharma amid intimidation.