Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 45

The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā

Devanagari script

हा नाथ प्रिय धर्मज्ञ करुणानाथवत्सल । त्वया हतेन निहता वयं ते सगृहप्रजा: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

hā nātha priya dharma-jña karuṇānātha-vatsala tvayā hatena nihatā vayaṁ te sa-gṛha-prajāḥ

Translation

唉，主人啊，亲爱的人啊，通晓宗教原则的人啊！无依无靠者仁慈的保护者啊！随着您的被杀，我们连同您的家眷和子孙也都一同灭亡了。

Synonyms

• hā: alas!
• hā: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hā (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation/particle (उद्गार)

• nātha: O lord!
• nātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• priya: O beloved!
• priya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; used as संबोधन-विशेषण

• dharma-jña: O knower of righteousness!
• dharma-jña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘knower of dharma’

• karuṇā-nātha-vatsala: O compassionate, lordly, affectionate one!
• karuṇā-nātha-vatsala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; multi-member determinative: ‘affectionate to the lord of compassion / compassionate lord, dear’ (contextual epithet)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• hatena: when you are slain / by (you) slain
• hatena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; √han/हन् ‘to kill’)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) agreeing with tvayā (sense: ‘you, being slain’)

• nihatāḥ: are destroyed
• nihatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (कृदन्त; ni-√han/हन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past passive participle (क्त) used predicatively with vayaṁ

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• te: of you, your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sa-gṛha-prajāḥ: (we) with our households and dependents
• sa-gṛha-prajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग ‘with’) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः ‘with house and dependents/subjects’ (sa- as upapada)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the fall of tyrants like Kaṁsa?

This verse shows that when an unrighteous ruler falls, even those dependent on him feel their world collapse—highlighting how adharma binds and endangers entire households and societies.

Why did the people lament to Kaṁsa after he was killed by Kṛṣṇa?

They had lived under Kaṁsa’s rule and depended on him for protection and livelihood; seeing him slain, they feared for their own survival and security, so they cried out in grief and panic.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Do not build your safety and identity on unjust power or harmful dependence; seek righteous leadership and take shelter of dharma so that your life remains steady even when worldly supports collapse.