Shloka 9

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

स पर्यावर्तमानेन सव्यदक्षिणतोऽच्युत: । बभ्राम भ्राम्यमाणेन गोवत्सेनेव बालक: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

sa paryāvartamānena savya-dakṣiṇato ’cyutaḥ babhrāma bhrāmyamāṇena go-vatseneva bālakaḥ

Translation

阿周陀主紧握大象的尾巴；大象向左向右扭转，令主也随之反向回旋，宛如孩童牵拉小牛尾巴而转动。

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पर्यावर्तमानेन: by/with (him) turning around
• पर्यावर्तमानेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-आ-वृत् (धातु) → पर्यावर्तमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada); तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य, साधारणतः नपुंसकं (instrumental singular)

• सव्य-दक्षिणतः: from the left and right sides / on both sides
• सव्य-दक्षिणतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense: direction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सव्य + दक्षिण) + तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम (epithet)

• बभ्राम: wandered/reeled about
• बभ्राम: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• भ्राम्यमाणेन: by/with (one) being whirled
• भ्राम्यमाणेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) → भ्राम्यमाण (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle); तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• गो-वत्सेन: with a calf
• गो-वत्सेन: Upamana-sahita Karana (उपमानसहित-करण; with इव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोः वत्सः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• बालकः: a boy/child
• बालकः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपमान (simile term)

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Kuvalayāpīḍa (the elephant)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna's mood during the Kuvalayapida fight?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa moving effortlessly around the turning elephant, comparing His motion to a child playing around a calf—revealing divine ease and playfulness even in a dangerous encounter.

Why is Krishna called Acyuta in this verse?

Acyuta means “infallible” or “one who never slips from His position.” Even while circling a raging elephant, Kṛṣṇa remains perfectly steady and unconquerable.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from Krishna circling the elephant calmly?

Facing powerful obstacles, one can cultivate steadiness and faith—remembering that the Supreme Lord is never overwhelmed, and devotion trains the heart to respond with composure rather than panic.