Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|Canto 10 Chapter 44

The Killing of Kaṁsa

VERSE 10.44.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ carcita-saṅkalpo
bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ
āsasādātha caṇūraṁ
muṣṭtikaṁ rohiṇī-sutaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; carcita — fixing; saṅkalpaḥ — His determination; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; madhusūdanaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; āsasāda — confronted; atha — then; cāṇūram — Cāṇūra; muṣṭikam — Muṣṭika; rohiṇī-sutaḥ — the son of Rohiṇī, Lord Balarāma.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed, Lord Kṛṣṇa made up His mind to accept the challenge. He paired off with Cāṇūra, and Lord Balarāma with Muṣṭika.

VERSE 10.44.2

hastābhyāṁ hastayor baddhvā
padbhyām eva ca pādayoḥ
vicakarṣatur anyonyaṁ
prasahya vijigīṣayā

SYNONYMS

hastābhyām — with their hands; hastayoḥ — by the hands; baddhvā — seizing; padbhyām — with their legs; eva ca — also; pādayoḥ — by the legs; vicakarṣatuḥ — they (Kṛṣṇa paired with Cāṇūra, and Balarāma with Muṣṭika) dragged; anyonyam — each other; prasahya — with force; vijigīṣayā — with desire for victory.

TRANSLATION

Seizing each other’s hands and locking legs with each other, the opponents struggled powerfully, eager for victory.

VERSE 10.44.3

aratnī dve aratnibhyāṁ
jānubhyāṁ caiva jānunī
śiraḥ śīrṣṇorasoras tāv
anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ

SYNONYMS

aratnī — against the opponent’s fists; dve — two; aratnibhyām — their fists; jānubhyām — their knees; ca eva — also; jānunī — against the opponent’s knees; śiraḥ — head; śīrṣṇā — with head; urasā — with chest; uraḥ — chest; tau — they in pairs; anyonyam — each other; abhijaghnatuḥ — struck.

TRANSLATION

They each struck fists against fists, knees against knees, head against head and chest against chest.

VERSE 10.44.4

paribhrāmaṇa-vikṣepa-
parirambhāvapātanaiḥ
utsarpaṇāpasarpaṇaiś
cānyonyaṁ pratyarundhatām

SYNONYMS

paribhrāmaṇa — with wheeling the other about; vikṣepa — shoving; parirambha — crushing; avapātanaiḥ — and throwing down; utsarpaṇa — releasing and running in front; apasarpaṇaiḥ — going behind; ca — and; anyonyam — each other; pratyarundhatām — they resisted.

TRANSLATION

Each fighter contended with his opponent by dragging him about in circles, shoving and crushing him, throwing him down and running before and behind him.

VERSE 10.44.5

utthāpanair unnayanaiś
cālanaiḥ sthāpanair api
parasparaṁ jigīṣantāv
apacakratur ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

utthāpanaiḥ — with lifting up; unnayanaiḥ — carrying; cālanaiḥ — pushing away; sthāpanaiḥ — holding stationary; api — also; parasparam — each other; jigīṣantau — wanting victory; apacakratuḥ — they harmed; ātmanaḥ — (even) themselves.

TRANSLATION

Forcefully lifting and carrying each other, pushing each other away and holding each other down, the fighters hurt even their own bodies in their great eagerness for victory.

VERSE 10.44.6

tad balābalavad yuddhaṁ
sametāḥ sarva-yoṣitaḥ
ūcuḥ parasparaṁ rājan
sānukampā varūthaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

tat — that; bala-abala — the strong and the weak; vat — involving; yuddham — fight; sametāḥ — assembled; sarva — all; yoṣitaḥ — the women; ūcuḥ — said; parasparam — to one another; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); sa-anukampāḥ — feeling compassion; varūthaśaḥ — in groups.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, all the women present, considering the match an unfair fight between the strong and the weak, felt extreme anxiety due to compassion. They assembled in groups around the arena and spoke to one another as follows.

VERSE 10.44.7

mahān ayaṁ batādharma
eṣāṁ rāja-sabhā-sadām
ye balābalavad yuddhaṁ
rājño ’nvicchanti paśyataḥ

SYNONYMS

mahān — great; ayam — this; bata — alas; adharmaḥ — act of irreligion; eṣām — on the part of these; rāja-sabhā — in the King’s assembly; sadām — persons present; ye — who; bala-abala-vat — between strong and weak; yuddham — a fight; rājñaḥ — while the King; anvicchanti — they also desire; paśyataḥ — is watching.

TRANSLATION

[The women said:] Alas, what a greatly irreligious act the members of this royal assembly are committing! As the King watches this fight between the strong and the weak, they also want to see it.

VERSE 10.44.8

kva vajra-sāra-sarvāṅgau
mallau śailendra-sannibhau
kva cāti-sukumārāṅgau
kiśorau nāpta-yauvanau

SYNONYMS

kva — where, on the one hand; vajra — of lightning; sāra — with the strength; sarva — all; aṅgau — whose limbs; mallau — two wrestlers; śaila — mountains; indra — like the chief; sannibhau — whose appearance; kva — where; ca — and, on the other hand; ati — very; su-kumāra — tender; aṅgau — whose limbs; kiśorau — two youths; na āpta — not having yet attained; yauvanau — Their maturity.

TRANSLATION

What comparison can there be between these two professional wrestlers, with limbs as strong as lightning bolts and bodies resembling mighty mountains, and these two young, immature boys with exceedingly tender limbs?

VERSE 10.44.9

dharma-vyatikramo hy asya
samājasya dhruvaṁ bhavet
yatrādharmaḥ samuttiṣṭhen
na stheyaṁ tatra karhicit

SYNONYMS

dharma — of religious principles; vyatikramaḥ — transgression; hi — indeed; asya — by this; samājasya — company; dhruvam — certainly; bhavet — must be; yatra — wherein; adharmaḥ — irreligion; samuttiṣṭhet — has fully arisen; na stheyam — one should not remain; tatra — there; karhicit — for any duration of time at all.

TRANSLATION

Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing.

VERSE 10.44.10

na sabhāṁ praviśet prājñaḥ
sabhya-doṣān anusmaran
abruvan vibruvann ajño
naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute

SYNONYMS

na — not; sabhām — an assembly; praviśet — should enter; prājñaḥ — the wise person; sabhya — of the assembly members; doṣān — sinful discrepancies; anusmaran — keeping in mind; abruvan — not speaking; vibruvan — speaking wrongly; ajñaḥ — ignorant (or pretending to be so); naraḥ — a man; kilbiṣam — sin; aśnute — incurs.

TRANSLATION

A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.

VERSE 10.44.11

valgataḥ śatrum abhitaḥ
kṛṣṇasya vadanāmbujam
vīkṣyatāṁ śrama-vāry-uptaṁ
padma-kośam ivāmbubhiḥ

SYNONYMS

valgataḥ — leaping; śatrum — of His enemy; abhitaḥ — on all sides; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa; vadana — the face; ambujam — lotuslike; vīkṣyatām — you should see; śrama — of fatigue; vāri — with the moisture; uptam — covered; padma — of a lotus flower; kośam — the whorl; iva — like; ambubhiḥ — with droplets of water.

TRANSLATION

Just see the lotus face of Kṛṣṇa as He darts around His foe! That face, covered with drops of perspiration brought on by the strenuous fight, resembles a lotus covered with dew.

VERSE 10.44.12

kiṁ na paśyata rāmasya
mukham ātāmra-locanam
muṣṭikaṁ prati sāmarṣaṁ
hāsa-saṁrambha-śobhitam

SYNONYMS

kim — why; na paśyata — do you not see; rāmasya — of Lord Balarāma; mukham — the face; ātāmra — like copper; locanam — with eyes; muṣṭikam — Muṣṭika; prati — toward; sa-amarṣam — with anger; hāsa — by His laughter; saṁrambha — and His absorption; śobhitam — beautified.

TRANSLATION

Don’t you see the face of Lord Balarāma, with its eyes copper-red from His anger toward Muṣṭika and its beauty enhanced by His laughter and His absorption in the fight?

VERSE 10.44.13

puṇyā bata vraja-bhuvo yad ayaṁ nṛ-liṅga
gūḍhaḥ purāṇa-puruṣo vana-citra-mālyaḥ
gāḥ pālayan saha-balaḥ kvaṇayaṁś ca veṇuṁ
vikrīdayāñcati giritra-ramārcitāṅghriḥ

SYNONYMS

puṇyāḥ — pious; bata — indeed; vraja-bhuvaḥ — the various regions of the land of Vraja; yat — in which; ayam — this; nṛ — human; liṅga — by characteristics; gūḍhaḥ — disguised; purāṇa-puruṣaḥ — the primeval Personality of Godhead; vana — composed of flowers and other items of the forest; citra — of wonderful variety; mālyaḥ — whose garlands; gāḥ — the cows; pālayan — herding; saha — together with; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; kvaṇayan — vibrating; ca — and; veṇum — His flute; vikrīḍayā — with various pastimes; añcati — He moves about; giritra — by Lord Śiva; ramā — and the goddess of fortune; arcita — worshiped; aṅghriḥ — His feet.

TRANSLATION

How pious are the tracts of land in Vraja, for there the primeval Personality of Godhead, disguising Himself with human traits, wanders about, enacting His many pastimes! Adorned with wonderfully variegated forest garlands, He whose feet are worshiped by Lord Śiva and goddess Ramā vibrates His flute as He tends the cows in the company of Balarāma.

VERSE 10.44.14

gopyas tapaḥ kim acaran yad amuṣya rūpaṁ
lāvaṇya-sāram asamordhvam ananya-siddham
dṛgbhiḥ pibanty anusavābhinavaṁ durāpam
ekānta-dhāma yaśasaḥ śriya aiśvarasya

SYNONYMS

gopyaḥ — the gopīs; tapaḥ — austerities; kim — what; acaran — performed; yat — from which; amuṣya — of such a one (Lord Kṛṣṇa); rūpam — the form; lāvaṇya-sāram — the essence of loveliness; asama-ūrdhvam — not paralleled or surpassed; ananya-siddham — not perfected by any other ornament (self-perfect); dṛgbhiḥ — by the eyes; pibanti — they drink; anusava-abhinavam — constantly new; durāpam — difficult to obtain; ekānta-dhāma — the only abode; yaśasaḥ — of fame; śriyaḥ — of beauty; aiśvarasya — of opulence.

TRANSLATION

What austerities must the gopīs have performed! With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s form, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That form is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare.

VERSE 10.44.15

yā dohane ’vahanane mathanopalepa
preṅkheṅkhanārbha-ruditokṣaṇa-mārjanādau
gāyanti cainam anurakta-dhiyo ’śru-kaṇṭhyo
dhanyā vraja-striya urukrama-citta-yānāḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ — who (the gopīs); dohane — while milking; avahanane — threshing; mathana — churning; upalepa — smearing; preṅkha — on swings; iṅkhana — swinging; arbha-rudita — (taking care of) crying babies; ukṣaṇa — sprinkling; mārjana — cleaning; ādau — and so on; gāyanti — they sing; ca — and; enam — about Him; anurakta — very much attached; dhiyaḥ — whose minds; aśru — with tears; kaṇṭhyaḥ — whose throats; dhanyāḥ — fortunate; vraja-striyaḥ — the ladies of Vraja; urukrama — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; citta — by consciousness; yānāḥ — whose acquisition of all desired objects.

TRANSLATION

The ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women because, with their minds fully attached to Kṛṣṇa and their throats always choked up with tears, they constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cleaning their houses, and so on. By their exalted Kṛṣṇa consciousness they automatically acquire all desirable things.

VERSE 10.44.16

prātar vrajād vrajata āviśataś ca sāyaṁ
gobhiḥ samaṁ kvaṇayato ’sya niśamya veṇum
nirgamya tūrṇam abalāḥ pathi bhūri-puṇyāḥ
paśyanti sa-smita-mukhaṁ sa-dayāvalokam

SYNONYMS

prātaḥ — in the early morning; vrajāt — from Vraja; vrajataḥ — of Him who is going; āviśataḥ — entering; ca — and; sāyam — in the evening; gobhiḥ samam — together with the cows; kvaṇayataḥ — who is playing; asya — His; niśamya — hearing; veṇum — the flute; nirgamya — coming out; tūrṇam — quickly; abalāḥ — the women; pathi — on the road; bhūri — extremely; puṇyāḥ — pious; paśyanti — they see; sa — with; smita — smiling; mukham — face; sa-daya — merciful; avalokam — with glances.

TRANSLATION

When the gopīs hear Kṛṣṇa playing His flute as He leaves Vraja in the morning with His cows or returns with them at sunset, the young girls quickly come out of their houses to see Him. They must have performed many pious activities to be able to see Him as He walks on the road, His smiling face mercifully glancing upon them.

VERSE 10.44.17

evaṁ prabhāṣamāṇāsu
strīṣu yogeśvaro hariḥ
śatruṁ hantuṁ manaś cakre
bhagavān bharatarṣabha

SYNONYMS

evam — in this manner; prabhāṣamāṇāsu — while they were speaking; strīṣu — the women; yoga-īśvaraḥ — the master of all mystic power; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śatrum — His enemy; hantum — to kill; manaḥ cakre — made up His mind; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bharata-ṛṣabha — O hero of the Bhāratas.

TRANSLATION

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] As the women spoke thus, O hero of the Bhāratas, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystic power, made up His mind to kill His opponent.

VERSE 10.44.18

sa-bhayāḥ strī-giraḥ śrutvā
putra-sneha-śucāturau
pitarāv anvatapyetāṁ
putrayor abudhau balam

SYNONYMS

sa-bhayāḥ — fearful; strī — of the women; giraḥ — the words; śrutvā — hearing; putra — for their sons; sneha — by their affection; śuca — with sorrow; āturau — overwhelmed; pitarau — Their parents (Devakī and Vasudeva); anvatapyetām — felt remorse; putrayoḥ — of their two sons; abudhau — not knowing; balam — the strength.

TRANSLATION

Out of affection for the two Lords, Their parents [Devakī and Vasudeva] became overwhelmed with sorrow when they heard the women’s fearful statements. They grieved, not knowing their sons’ strength.

VERSE 10.44.19

tais tair niyuddha-vidhibhir
vividhair acyutetarau
yuyudhāte yathānyonyaṁ
tathaiva bala-muṣṭikau

SYNONYMS

taiḥ taiḥ — with all these; niyuddha — of wrestling; vidhibhiḥ — techniques; vividhaiḥ — various; acyuta-itarau — Lord Acyuta and His opponent; yuyudhāte — fought; yathā — as; anyonyam — with each other; tathā eva — just so; bala-muṣṭikau — Lord Balarāma and Muṣṭika.

TRANSLATION

Lord Balarāma and Muṣṭika, expertly displaying numerous wrestling techniques, battled each other in the same way that Lord Kṛṣṇa and His opponent did.

VERSE 10.44.20

bhagavad-gātra-niṣpātair
vajra-nīṣpeṣa-niṣṭhuraiḥ
cāṇūro bhajyamānāṅgo
muhur glānim avāpa ha

SYNONYMS

bhagavat — of the Supreme Lord; gātra — by the limbs; niṣpātaiḥ — due to the blows; vajra — of lightning; niṣpeṣa — like a crushing stroke; niṣṭhuraiḥ — hard; cāṇūraḥ — Cāṇūra; bhajyamāna — being broken; aṅgaḥ — his entire body; muhuḥ — more and more; glānim — pain and fatigue; avāpa ha — felt.

TRANSLATION

The harsh blows from the Supreme Lord’s limbs fell like crushing lightning bolts upon Cāṇūra, breaking every part of his body and causing him more and more pain and fatigue.

VERSE 10.44.21

sa śyena-vega utpatya
muṣṭī-kṛtya karāv ubhau
bhagavantaṁ vāsudevaṁ
kruddho vakṣasy abādhata

SYNONYMS

saḥ — he, Cāṇūra; śyena — of a hawk; vegaḥ — with the speed; utpatya — falling upon Him; muṣṭī — into fists; kṛtya — making; karau — his hands; ubhau — both; bhagavantam — the Supreme Lord; vāsudevam — Kṛṣṇa; kruddhaḥ — angry; vakṣasi — upon His chest; abādhata — struck.

TRANSLATION

Furious, Cāṇūra attacked Lord Vāsudeva with the speed of a hawk and struck His chest with both fists.

VERSE 10.44.22-23

nācalat tat-prahāreṇa
mālāhata iva dvipaḥ
bāhvor nigṛhya cāṇūraṁ
bahuśo bhrāmayan hariḥ

bhū-pṛṣṭhe pothayām āsa
tarasā kṣīṇa jīvitam
visrastākalpa-keśa-srag
indra-dhvaja ivāpatat

SYNONYMS

na acalat — He (Lord Kṛṣṇa) did not move; tat-prahāreṇa — because of his blows; mālā — with a garland; āhata — struck; iva — as; dvipaḥ — an elephant; bāhvoḥ — by the two arms; nigṛhya — seizing; cāṇūram — Cāṇūra; bahuśaḥ — several times; bhrāmayan — whirling him around; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhū — of the earth; pṛṣṭhe — onto the surface; pothayām āsa — hurled; tarasā — forcefully; kṣīṇa — becoming lost; jīvitam — his life; visrasta — scattered; ākalpa — his clothing; keśa — hair; srak — and flower garland; indra-dhvajaḥ — a tall festival column; iva — as if; apatat — he fell.

TRANSLATION

No more shaken by the demon’s mighty blows than an elephant struck with a flower garland, Lord Kṛṣṇa grabbed Cāṇūra by his arms, swung him around several times and hurled him onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair and garland scattering, the wrestler fell down dead, like a huge festival column collapsing.

VERSE 10.44.24-25

tathaiva muṣṭikaḥ pūrvaṁ
sva-muṣṭyābhihatena vai
balabhadreṇa balinā
talenābhihato bhṛśam

pravepitaḥ sa rudhiram
udvaman mukhato ’rditaḥ
vyasuḥ papātorvy-upasthe
vātāhata ivāṅghripaḥ

SYNONYMS

tathā — also; eva — similarly; muṣṭikaḥ — Muṣṭika; pūrvam — previously; sva-muṣṭyā — with his fist; abhihatena — who had been struck; vai — indeed; balabhadreṇa — by Lord Balarāma; balinā — the powerful; talena — with His palm; abhihataḥ — struck; bhṛśam — violently; pravepitaḥ — trembling; saḥ — he, Muṣṭika; rudhiram — blood; udvaman — vomiting; mukhataḥ — from his mouth; arditaḥ — tormented; vyasuḥ — lifeless; papāta — he fell; urvī — of the earth; upasthe — onto the lap; vāta — by the wind; āhataḥ — struck down; iva — like; aṅghripaḥ — a tree.

TRANSLATION

Similarly, Muṣṭika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty Lord’s palm, the demon trembled all over in great pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.

VERSE 10.44.26

tataḥ kūṭam anuprāptaṁ
rāmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ
avadhīl līlayā rājan
sāvajñaṁ vāma-muṣṭinā

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — then; kūṭam — the demonic wrestler Kūṭa; anuprāptam — appearing on the scene; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; praharatām — of fighters; varaḥ — the best; avadhīt — killed; līlayā — playfully; rājan — O King, Parīkṣit; sa-avajñam — neglectfully; vāma — left; muṣṭinā — with His fist.

TRANSLATION

Confronted next by the wrestler Kūṭa, Lord Balarāma, the best of fighters, playfully and nonchalantly killed him with His left fist, O King.

VERSE 10.44.27

tarhy eva hi śalaḥ kṛṣṇa-
prapadāhata-śīrṣakaḥ
dvidhā vidīrṇas tośalaka
ubhāv api nipetatuḥ

SYNONYMS

tarhi eva — and then; hi — indeed; śalaḥ — the wrestler Śala; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prapada — by the toes; āhata — struck; śīrṣakaḥ — his head; dvidhā — in two; vidīrnaḥ — torn; tośalaka — Tośala; ubhau api — both of them; nipetatuḥ — fell down.

TRANSLATION

Then Kṛṣṇa kicked in Śala’s head and tore Tośala in half, and both wrestlers fell down dead.

VERSE 10.44.28

cāṇūre muṣṭike kūṭe
śale tośalake hate
śeṣāḥ pradudruvur mallāḥ
sarve prāṇa-parīpsavaḥ

SYNONYMS

cāṇūre muṣṭike kūṭe — Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika and Kūṭa; śale tośalake — Śala and Tośala; hate — being killed; śeṣāḥ — those remaining; pradudruvuḥ — ran away; mallāḥ — wrestlers; sarve — all; prāṇa — their lives; parīpsavaḥ — hoping to save.

TRANSLATION

Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala and Tośala having been killed, the remaining wrestlers all fled for their lives.

VERSE 10.44.29

gopān vayasyān ākṛṣya
taiḥ saṁsṛjya vijahratuḥ
vādyamāneṣu tūryeṣu
valgantau ruta-nūpurau

SYNONYMS

gopān — the cowherd boys; vayasyān — Their young friends; ākṛṣya — gathering together; taiḥ — with them; saṁsṛjya — joining up; vijahratuḥ — They sported; vādyamāneṣu — while they played; tūryeṣu — the musical instruments; valgantau — the two of Them dancing about; ruta — resounding; nūpurau — Their ankle bells.

TRANSLATION

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then called Their young cowherd boyfriends to join Them, and in their company the Lords danced about and sported, Their ankle bells resounding as musical instruments played.

VERSE 10.44.30

janāḥ prajahṛṣuḥ sarve
karmaṇā rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ
ṛte kaṁsaṁ vipra-mukhyāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu sādhv iti

SYNONYMS

janāḥ — the people; prajahṛṣuḥ — rejoiced; sarve — all; karmaṇā — at the deed; rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; ṛte — except; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa; vipra — of the brāhmaṇas; mukhyāḥ — the best; sādhavaḥ — the saintly persons; sādhu sādhu iti — (exclaimed) “Excellent! Excellent!”.

TRANSLATION

Everyone except Kaṁsa rejoiced at the wonderful feat Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had performed. The exalted brāhmaṇas and great saints exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!”

VERSE 10.44.31

hateṣu malla-varyeṣu
vidruteṣu ca bhoja-rāṭ
nyavārayat sva-tūryāṇi
vākyaṁ cedam uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

hateṣu — being killed; malla-varyeṣu — the best wrestlers; vidruteṣu — having run away; ca — and; bhoja-rāṭ — the Bhoja king, Kaṁsa; nyavārayat — stopped; sva — his own; tūryāṇi — musical instruments; vākyam — words; ca — and; idam — these; uvāca ha — spoke.

TRANSLATION

The Bhoja king, seeing that his best wrestlers had all been killed or had fled, stopped the musical performance originally meant for his pleasure and spoke the following words.

VERSE 10.44.32

niḥsārayata durvṛttau
vasudevātmajau purāt
dhanaṁ harata gopānāṁ
nandaṁ badhnīta durmatim

SYNONYMS

niḥsārayata — expel; durvṛttau — who behave wickedly; vasudeva-ātmajau — the two sons of Vasudeva; purāt — from the city; dhanam — the wealth; harata — take away; gopānām — of the cowherds; nandam — Nanda Mahārāja; badhnīta — tie up; durmatim — the fool, whose heart is crooked.

TRANSLATION

[Kaṁsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds’ property and arrest that fool Nanda!

VERSE 10.44.33

vasudevas tu durmedhā
hanyatām āśv asattamaḥ
ugrasenaḥ pitā cāpi
sānugaḥ para-pakṣa-gaḥ

SYNONYMS

vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; tu — and furthermore; durmedhā — the foolish-minded; hanyatām — should be killed; āśu — immediately; asat-tamaḥ — the worst of the impure; ugrasenaḥ — Ugrasena; pitā — my father; ca api — also; sa — together with; anugaḥ — his followers; para — of the enemy; pakṣa-gaḥ — taking the side.

TRANSLATION

Kill that most evil fool Vasudeva! And also kill my father, Ugrasena, along with his followers, who have all sided with our enemies!

VERSE 10.44.34

evaṁ vikatthamāne vai
kaṁse prakupito ’vyayaḥ
laghimnotpatya tarasā
mañcam uttuṅgam āruhat

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; vikatthamāne — exclaiming with audacity; vai — indeed; kaṁse — Kaṁsa; prakupitaḥ — becoming extremely angry; avyayaḥ — the infallible Lord; laghimnā — with ease; utpatya — jumping up; tarasā — swiftly; mañcam — the royal platform; uttuṅgam — tall; āruhat — climbed onto.

TRANSLATION

As Kaṁsa thus raved so audaciously, the infallible Lord Kṛṣṇa, intensely angry, quickly and easily jumped up onto the high royal dais.

VERSE 10.44.35

tam āviśantam ālokya
mṛtyum ātmana āsanāt
manasvī sahasotthāya
jagṛhe so ’si-carmaṇī

SYNONYMS

tam — Him, Kṛṣṇa; āviśantam — entering (into his private sitting area); ālokya — seeing; mṛtyum — death; ātmanaḥ — his own; āsanāt — from his seat; manasvī — the intelligent; sahasā — immediately; utthāya — standing up; jagṛhe — took up; saḥ — he; asi — his sword; carmaṇī — and his shield.

TRANSLATION

Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching like death personified, the quick-witted Kaṁsa instantly rose from his seat and took up his sword and shield.

VERSE 10.44.36

taṁ khaḍga-pāṇiṁ vicarantam āśu
śyenaṁ yathā dakṣiṇa-savyam ambare
samagrahīd durviṣahogra-tejā
yathoragaṁ tārkṣya-sutaḥ prasahya

SYNONYMS

tam — him, Kaṁsa; khaḍga — with sword; pāṇim — in his hand; vicarantam — moving about; āśu — quickly; śyenam — a hawk; yathā — like; dakṣiṇa-savyam — right and left; ambare — in the sky; samagrahīt — seized; durviṣaha — irresistible; ugra — and fearsome; tejāḥ — whose strength; yathā — as; uragam — a snake; tārkṣya-sutaḥ — the son of Tārkṣya, Garuḍa; prasahya — by force.

TRANSLATION

Sword in hand, Kaṁsa moved quickly from side to side like a hawk in the sky. But Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose fearsome strength is irresistible, powerfully seized the demon just as the son of Tārkṣya might capture a snake.

VERSE 10.44.37

pragṛhya keśeṣu calat-kirītaṁ
nipātya raṅgopari tuṅga-mañcāt
tasyopariṣṭāt svayam abja-nābhaḥ
papāta viśvāśraya ātma-tantraḥ

SYNONYMS

pragṛhya — grabbing; keśeṣu — by the hair; calat — knocking off; kirīṭam — whose crown; nipātya — throwing down; raṅga-upari — onto the surface of the wrestling ring; tuṅga — high; mañcāt — from the platform; tasya — of him; upariṣṭāt — on top; svayam — Himself; abja-nābhaḥ — the lotus-naveled Supreme Lord; papāta — threw; viśva — of the entire universe; āśrayaḥ — the support; ātma-tantraḥ — independent.

TRANSLATION

Grabbing Kaṁsa by the hair and knocking off his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then the independent Lord, the support of the entire universe, threw Himself upon the King.

VERSE 10.44.38

taṁ samparetaṁ vicakarṣa bhūmau
harir yathebhaṁ jagato vipaśyataḥ
hā heti śabdaḥ su-mahāṁs tadābhūd
udīritaḥ sarva-janair narendra

SYNONYMS

tam — him; samparetam — dead; vicakarṣa — dragged; bhūmau — along the ground; hariḥ — a lion; yathā — as; ibham — an elephant; jagataḥ — all the people; vipaśyataḥ — as they looked on; iti — “Oh, oh!”; śabdaḥ — the sound; su-mahān — mighty; tadā — then; abhūt — arose; udīritaḥ — spoken; sarva-janaiḥ — by all the people; nara-indra — O ruler of men (King Parīkṣit).

TRANSLATION

As a lion drags a dead elephant, the Lord then dragged Kaṁsa’s dead body along the ground in full view of everyone present. O King, all the people in the arena tumultuously cried out, “Oh! Oh!”

VERSE 10.44.39

sa nityadodvigna-dhiyā tam īśvaraṁ
pibann adan vā vicaran svapan śvasan
dadarśa cakrāyudham agrato yatas
tad eva rūpaṁ duravāpam āpa

SYNONYMS

saḥ — he, Kaṁsa; nityadā — constantly; udvigna — anxious; dhiyā — with mind; tam — Him; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; piban — while drinking; adan — eating; — or; vicaran — walking; svapan — sleeping; śvasan — breathing; dadarśa — saw; cakra — the disc weapon; āyudham — in His hand; agrataḥ — before himself; yataḥ — because; tat — that; eva — same; rūpam — personal form; duravāpam — very difficult to achieve; āpa — he achieved.

TRANSLATION

Kaṁsa had always been disturbed by the thought that the Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore when drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or simply breathing, the King had always seen the Lord before him with the disc weapon in His hand. Thus Kaṁsa achieved the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord’s.

VERSE 10.44.40

tasyānujā bhrātaro ’ṣṭau
kaṅka-nyagrodhakādayaḥ
abhyadhāvann ati-kruddhā
bhrātur nirveśa-kāriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya — of him, Kaṁsa; anujāḥ — younger; bhrātaraḥ — the brothers; aṣṭau — eight; kaṅka-nyagrodhaka-ādayaḥ — Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka and the others; abhyadhāvan — ran forward to attack; ati-kruddhāḥ — infuriated; bhrātuḥ — to their brother; nirveśa — repayment of the debt; kāriṇaḥ — doing.

TRANSLATION

Kaṁsa’s eight younger brothers, led by Kaṅka and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a rage, seeking to avenge their brother’s death.

VERSE 10.44.41

tathāti-rabhasāṁs tāṁs tu
saṁyattān rohiṇī-sutaḥ
ahan parigham udyamya
paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

tathā — in this manner; ati-rabhasān — running very swiftly; tān — they; tu — and; saṁyattān — ready to strike; rohiṇī-sutaḥ — the son of Rohiṇī, Lord Balarāma; ahan — beat down; parigham — His club; udyamya — wielding; paśūn — animals; iva — as; mṛga-adhipaḥ — the lion, king of animals.

TRANSLATION

As they ran swiftly toward the two Lords, ready to strike, the son of Rohiṇī slew them with His club just as a lion easily kills other animals.

VERSE 10.44.42

nedur dundubhayo vyomni
brahmeśādyā vibhūtayaḥ
puṣpaiḥ kirantas taṁ prītāḥ
śaśaṁsur nanṛtuḥ striyaḥ

SYNONYMS

neduḥ — resounded; dundubhayaḥ — kettledrums; vyomni — in the sky; brahma-īśa-ādyāḥ — Brahmā, Śiva and other demigods; vibhūtayaḥ — His expansions; puṣpaiḥ — flowers; kirantaḥ — scattering down; tam — upon Him; prītāḥ — pleased; śaśaṁsuḥ — they chanted His praises; nanṛtuḥ — danced; striyaḥ — their wives.

TRANSLATION

Kettledrums resounded in the sky as Brahmā, Śiva and other demigods, the Lord’s expansions, rained down flowers upon Him with pleasure. They chanted His praises, and their wives danced.

VERSE 10.44.43

teṣāṁ striyo mahā-rāja
suhṛn-maraṇa-duḥkhitāḥ
tatrābhīyur vinighnantyaḥ
śīrṣāṇy aśru-vilocanāḥ

SYNONYMS

teṣām — of them (Kaṁsa and his brothers); striyaḥ — the wives; mahārāja — O King (Parīkṣit); suhṛt — of their well-wishers (their husbands); maraṇa — because of the death; duḥkhitāḥ — sorrowful; tatra — that place; abhīyuḥ — approached; vinighnantyaḥ — beating; śīrṣāṇi — their heads; aśru — with tears; vilocanāḥ — their eyes.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, the wives of Kaṁsa and his brothers, aggrieved by the death of their well-wishing husbands, came forward with tearful eyes, beating their heads.

VERSE 10.44.44

śayānān vīra-śayāyāṁ
patīn āliṅgya śocatīḥ
vilepuḥ su-svaraṁ nāryo
visṛjantyo muhuḥ śucaḥ

SYNONYMS

śayānān — lying; vīra — of a hero; śayāyām — upon the bed (the ground); patīn — their husbands; āliṅgya — embracing; śocatīḥ — feeling sorrow; vilepuḥ — lamented; su-svaram — loudly; nāryaḥ — the women; visṛjantyaḥ — shedding; muhuḥ — repeatedly; śucaḥ — tears.

TRANSLATION

Embracing their husbands, who lay on a hero’s final bed, the sorrowful women loudly lamented while shedding constant tears.

VERSE 10.44.45

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

SYNONYMS

ha — alas; nātha — O master; priya — O dear one; dharma-jña — O knower of religious principles; karuṇa — O kind one; anātha — to those who have no protector; vatsala — O you who are compassionate; tvayā — by you; hatena — being killed; nihatāḥ — are killed; vayam — we; te — your; sa — together with; gṛha — the home; prajāḥ — and offspring.

TRANSLATION

[The women cried out:] Alas, O master, O dear one, O knower of religious principles! O kind and compassionate protector of the shelterless! By your being slain we have also been slain, together with your household and offspring.

VERSE 10.44.46

tvayā virahitā patyā
purīyaṁ puruṣarṣabha
na śobhate vayam iva
nivṛttotsava-maṅgalā

SYNONYMS

tvayā — of you; virahitā — bereft; patyā — the master; purī — the city; iyam — this; puruṣa — of men; ṛṣabha — O most heroic one; na śobhate — does not appear beautiful; vayam — us; iva — just like; nivṛtta — ceased; utsava — festivity; maṅgalā — and auspiciousness.

TRANSLATION

O great hero among men, bereft of you, its master, this city has lost its beauty, just as we have, and all festivity and good fortune within it have come to an end.

VERSE 10.44.47

anāgasāṁ tvaṁ bhūtānāṁ
kṛtavān droham ulbaṇam
tenemāṁ bho daśāṁ nīto
bhūta-dhruk ko labheta śam

SYNONYMS

anāgasām — sinless; tvam — you; bhūtānām — against creatures; kṛtavān — have committed; droham — violence; ulbaṇam — terrible; tena — by that; imām — to this; bho — O dear one; daśām — condition; nītaḥ — brought; bhūta — to living beings; dhruk — causing harm; kaḥ — who; labheta — can achieve; śam — happiness.

TRANSLATION

O dear one, you have been brought to this state because of the terrible violence you committed against innocent creatures. How can one who harms others attain happiness?

VERSE 10.44.48

sarveṣām iha bhūtānām
eṣa hi prabhavāpyayaḥ
goptā ca tad-avadhyāyī
na kvacit sukham edhate

SYNONYMS

sarveṣām — of all; iha — in this world; bhūtānām — living beings; eṣaḥ — this (Śrī Kṛṣṇa); hi — certainly; prabhava — the origin; apyayaḥ — and disappearance; goptā — the maintainer; ca — and; tat — of Him; avadhyāyī — one who is neglectful; na kvacit — never; sukham — happily; edhate — prospers.

TRANSLATION

Lord Kṛṣṇa causes the appearance and disappearance of all beings in this world, and He is their maintainer as well. One who disrespects Him can never prosper happily.

VERSE 10.44.49

śrī-śuka uvāca

rāja-yoṣita āśvāsya
bhagavāḻ loka-bhāvanaḥ
yām āhur laukikīṁ saṁsthāṁ
hatānāṁ samakārayat

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; rāja — of the King (and his brothers); yoṣitaḥ — the wives; āśvāsya — consoling; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; loka — of all the worlds; bhāvanaḥ — the sustainer; yām — which; āhuḥ — they (Vedic authorities) enjoin; laukikīm saṁsthām — funeral rites; hatānām — for the deceased; samakārayat — He arranged to be performed.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After consoling the royal ladies, Lord Kṛṣṇa, sustainer of all the worlds, arranged for the prescribed funeral rites to be performed.

VERSE 10.44.50

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ caiva
mocayitvātha bandhanāt
kṛṣṇa-rāmau vavandāte
śirasā spṛśya pādayoḥ

SYNONYMS

mātaram — Their mother; pitaram — father; ca — and; eva — also; mocayitvā — releasing; atha — then; bandhanāt — from their fetters; kṛṣṇa-rāmau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; vavandāte — paid obeisances; śirasā — with Their heads; spṛśya — touching; pādayoḥ — their feet.

TRANSLATION

Then Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma released Their mother and father from bondage and offered obeisances to them, touching their feet with Their heads.

VERSE 10.44.51

devakī vasudevaś ca
vijñāya jagad-īśvarau
kṛta-saṁvandanau putrau
sasvajāte na śaṅkitau

SYNONYMS

devakī — Devakī; vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; ca — and; vijñāya — recognizing; jagat — of the universe; īśvarau — as the two Lords; kṛta — paying; saṁvandanau — full respects (by standing with joined palms); putrau — their two sons; sasvajāte na — they did not embrace; śaṅkitau — apprehensive.

TRANSLATION

Devakī and Vasudeva, now knowing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to be the Lords of the universe, simply stood with joined palms. Being apprehensive, they did not embrace their sons.