Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24

Uddhava Sent to Vraja: Consolation to Nanda-Yaśodā and the Gopīs’ Separation

Devanagari script

कंसं नागायुतप्राणं मल्लौ गजपतिं यथा । अवधिष्टां लीलयैव पशूनिव मृगाधिप: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kaṁsaṁ nāgāyuta-prāṇaṁ mallau gaja-patiṁ yathā avadhiṣṭāṁ līlayaiva paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ

Translation

奎师那与婆罗摩杀死了强如万象的康萨，又杀了摔跤手旃奴罗、穆什提迦以及象王库瓦拉雅毗陀；他们皆以游戏般轻松之姿，如狮子处置小兽。

Synonyms

• kaṁsam: Kamsa
• kaṁsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṁsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• nāgāyuta-prāṇam: (who had) the vitality of ten-thousand elephants
• nāgāyuta-prāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāga + ayuta + prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): नागानाम् अयुतं प्राणाः यस्य/यावत् (idiomatically ‘having the life/strength of ten-thousand elephants’); पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular), विशेषण (qualifier) of kaṁsam

• mallau: the two wrestlers
• mallau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: malla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual)

• gaja-patim: the lord of elephants (the elephant)
• gaja-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गजानां पतिः; पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (as/like)

• avadhiṣṭām: (they) slew/struck down
• avadhiṣṭām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + dhā (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (dual), परस्मैपद; √dhā with ava- ‘to strike down/kill’

• līlayā: by play/sport
• līlayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic/only/indeed)

• paśūn: animals
• paśūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (like/as if)

• mṛgādhipaḥ: a lord of beasts (lion)
• mṛgādhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मृगाणाम् अधिपः; पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

Purport

Here Nanda means to say, “Not only did Garga Muni declare that these boys are divine, but just see what They have done! Everyone is talking about it.”

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kaṁsa
• Cāṇūra
• Muṣṭika

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna killing Kamsa?

This verse states that Kṛṣṇa killed Kaṁsa—possessing immense strength—effortlessly, as a divine pastime, showing the Lord’s supremacy and protective mission.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī compare Krishna to a lion in this verse?

To emphasize that just as a lion easily overpowers lesser animals, Kṛṣṇa effortlessly defeated Kaṁsa and the wrestlers, despite their fearsome power.

Practical application of Krishna-lila teachings in modern life?

Remembering the Lord’s effortless power can strengthen faith during adversity: one can practice devotion with confidence that divine protection and justice ultimately prevail.