FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.36.20

प्रतियाते तु देवर्षौ कंस आभाष्य केशिनम् । प्रेषयामास हन्येतां भवता रामकेशवौ ॥ २० ॥
pratiyāte tu devarṣau
[pratiyaate tu devarshau]
kaṁsa ābhāṣya keśinam
[kamsa aabhaashya keshinam]
preṣayām āsa hanyetāṁ
[preshayaam aasa hanyetaam]
bhavatā rāma-keśavau
[bhavataa raama-keshavau]
Word-for-word
pratiyāte — having left tu — then deva - ṛṣau — the sage among the demigods kaṁsaḥ — King Kaṁsa ābhāṣya — addressing keśinam — the demon Keśī preṣayām āsa — he sent him hanyetām — the two should be killed bhavatā — by you rāma - keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pratiyāte tu devarṣau
pratiyāte
having left
tu
then
deva - ṛṣau
the sage among the demigods
kaṁsa ābhāṣya keśinam
kaṁsaḥ
King Kaṁsa
ābhāṣya
addressing
keśinam
the demon Keśī
preṣayām āsa hanyetāṁ
preṣayām āsa
he sent him
hanyetām
the two should be killed
bhavatā rāma-keśavau
bhavatā
by you
rāma - keśavau
Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa .
Important Words
  • deva - ṛṣau — the sage among the demigods
    Devarṣi — Nārada's standard title. The compound names his cosmic rank: a ṛṣi who can travel among devas, asuras, and humans alike, carrying news between the three worlds.
  • keśinam — the demon Keśī
    From keśa (mane) — the long-maned horse-demon. He will appear in person in the next chapter (SB 10.37). The Bhāgavatam introduces him here by Kaṁsa's order, foreshadowing across the chapter-break.
  • preṣayām āsa — he sent (Keśī)
    From pra + √iṣ — to send forth. Kaṁsa's verb of choice — he sends. Bhakti is the opposite verb: śaraṇa-gata-rakṣaṇa, taking shelter, not dispatching.
  • rāma - keśavau — Rāma and Keśava (the two)
    Rāma (Balarāma) + Keśava (Kṛṣṇa). Keśava — He of beautiful hair, or He who slays Keśī (post-event etymology). The Bhāgavatam quietly names Kṛṣṇa here by the very title He will earn from killing this horse-demon.
After Nārada left, King Kaṁsa summoned Keśī and ordered him, “Go kill Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.”
Purport

Before having Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma brought to Mathurā, Kaṁsa tried sending one more demon to Vṛndāvana.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
After Nārada left, King Kaṁsa summoned Keśī and ordered him, "Go kill Rāma and Kṛṣṇa."
Commentary

Kamsa ordered Kesi, "Go to Vraja and kill them". This statement also means "You should attain them or merge into them (get killed)."

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

He gave instructions to Keśī after Nārada left, since he feared that sending Keśī would be breaking Nārada’s instructions or that Nārada would prevent him sending Keśī. He called him (ābhāsya) saying “O my brother! O great warrior!” According to Parāśara and Vaiśampāyana, he gave instructions to Keśī through messengers. He respected Keśī by addressing him as bhavatā. Rāma means he who enjoys in Gokula. Mādhava (instead of keśava) means he who appeared in Madhu’s dynasty. Or the two words mean those two who gave up their friends and enjoy in Gokula. He finds fault with them and does not say their names directly out of hatred. Or since their names are well known he addresses them with disrespect.

Related values & verses
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Kaṁsa summons the horse demon Keśī and orders him to kill Rāma and Kṛṣṇa. Tyrants outsource their fears; whatever they cannot do themselves, they send agents to attempt.
Reflection Questions
  • What inner 'Keśī' do you keep sending against your better impulses?
  • Where could naming and refusing one such agent change the whole inner storyline?
Analogy

Kaṁsa dispatches Keśī the horse-demon the way a tyrant signs a death-warrant on a passing folder. He does not see that the same hand of Bhagavān has already taken Ariṣṭa; the same hand will receive Keśī. Demonic strategy is the long parade of agents into the same waiting palm.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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