तथा कंसो महातेजा जरासंधेन पालितः ॥
विक्रमेणैव कृष्णेन सगणः शातितो रणे ॥
सुनामा नाम विक्रान्तः समग्राक्षौहिणीपतिः ॥
भोजराजस्य मध्यस्थो भ्राता कंसस्य वीर्यवान् ॥
बलदेवद्वितीयेन कृष्णेनामित्रघातिना ॥
तरस्वी समरे दग्धः ससैन्यः शूरसेनराट् ॥
tathā kaṃso mahātejā jarāsaṃdhena pālitaḥ ||
vikrameṇaiva kṛṣṇena sagaṇaḥ śātito raṇe ||
sunāmā nāma vikrāntaḥ samagrākṣauhiṇīpatiḥ ||
bhojarājasya madhyastho bhrātā kaṃsasya vīryavān ||
baladevadvitīyena kṛṣṇenāmitraghātinā ||
tarasvī samare dagdhaḥ sasainyaḥ śūrasenarāṭ ||
Likewise Kansa, [a king] of great might, protected by Jarasandha, was struck down in battle by Krishna's valor alone, together with his retainers. Sunaman by name, valiant, commander of an entire army, the close counselor of the king of the Bhojas, the mighty own brother of Kansa — this swift king of Shurasena, together with his host, was consumed in battle by Krishna, destroyer of enemies, together with Baladeva.
67cbae3fb6b1 · published Jul 19, 2026, 2:46:26 PM UTC
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Krishna crushes the tyrant Kansa "by valor alone" — without army or allies — while the tyrant was "protected" by the mighty Jarasandha: the protection of the strongest among mortals is powerless before the Lord. Here the purpose of the descent shows itself — the overthrow of the unrighteous ruler who oppressed the righteous. It is significant that Krishna acts "together with Baladeva": the Lord and His eternal companion (Balarama-Shesha) appear together to defend dharma. The verse teaches that no earthly defense saves one against whom the Supreme has risen; that the Lord's descent aims at the overthrow of tyrants and the protection of the oppressed; and that Krishna and Balarama, inseparable, are a single power safeguarding righteousness.