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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.43.15

मृतकं द्विपमुत्सृज्य दन्तपाणि: समाविशत् । अंसन्यस्तविषाणोऽसृङ्‌मदबिन्दुभिरङ्कित: । विरूढस्वेदकणिकावदनाम्बुरुहो बभौ ॥ १५ ॥
mṛtakaṁ dvipam utsṛjya
[mritakam dvipam utsrijya]
danta-pāṇiḥ samāviśat
[danta-paanih samaavishat]
aṁsa-nyasta-viṣāṇo ’sṛṅ-
[amsa-nyasta-vishaano ’srin-]
mada-bindubhir aṅkitaḥ
[mada-bindubhir ankitah]
virūḍha-sveda-kaṇikā
[viroodha-sveda-kanikaa]
vadanāmburuho babhau
[vadanaamburuho babhau]
Word-for-word
mṛtakam — dead dvipam — the elephant utsṛjya — discarding danta — his tusk pāṇiḥ — in His hand samāviśat — He entered (the arena) aṁsa — upon His shoulder nyasta — placing viṣāṇaḥ — the tusk asṛk — of blood mada — and the elephant’s sweat bindubhiḥ — with drops aṅkitaḥ — sprinkled virūḍha — exuding sveda — of (His own) perspiration kaṇikā — with fine drops vadana — His face ambu - ruhaḥ — lotuslike babhau — shone .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mṛtakaṁ dvipam utsṛjya
mṛtakam
dead
dvipam
the elephant
utsṛjya
discarding
danta-pāṇiḥ samāviśat
danta
his tusk
pāṇiḥ
in His hand
samāviśat
He entered (the arena)
aṁsa-nyasta-viṣāṇo ’sṛṅ-
aṁsa
upon His shoulder
nyasta
placing
viṣāṇaḥ
the tusk
mada-bindubhir aṅkitaḥ
virūḍha-sveda-kaṇikā
asṛk
of blood
mada
and the elephant’s sweat
bindubhiḥ
with drops
aṅkitaḥ
sprinkled
virūḍha
exuding
sveda
of (His own) perspiration
kaṇikā
with fine drops
vadanāmburuho babhau
vadana
His face
ambu - ruhaḥ
lotuslike
babhau
shone .
Important Words
  • danta-pāṇiḥ — with the tusk in His hand
    A new epithet, coined in the moment — 'Tusk-handed Kṛṣṇa'. The same name-grammar that made Him cakra-pāṇi and śaṅkha-pāṇi in Vaikuṇṭha now names Him by the weapon He took from His enemy. A contiguous-token join of synonyms 'danta' and 'pāṇiḥ'.
  • vadana-ambu-ruhaḥ — lotus face
    Even soaked in elephant-sweat and blood, Kṛṣṇa's face is ambu-ruha — a water-lotus. Mādhurya is non-negotiable for the Bhāgavata; combat does not subtract from it. A contiguous-token join of synonyms 'vadana' and 'ambu-ruhaḥ'.
  • sveda-kaṇikā — with fine drops of perspiration
    The sāttvika-bhāva of sveda — Rūpa Gosvāmī enumerates it in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu as one of the eight aṣṭa-sāttvika signs visible on the body of rasa. Kṛṣṇa's own form displays them in the very act of līlā. A contiguous-token join of synonyms 'sveda' and 'kaṇikā'.
  • babhau — shone
    The Bhāgavata's signature verb for Kṛṣṇa's appearance — His shining is intrinsic, not borrowed. Brahma-saṁhitā 5.40: tasya bhāsā sarvam idaṁ vibhāti — by His effulgence everything else shines.
Leaving the dead elephant aside, Lord Kṛṣṇa held on to the tusk and entered the wrestling arena. With the tusk resting on His shoulder, drops of the elephant’s blood and sweat sprinkled all over Him, and His lotus face covered with fine drops of His own perspiration, the Lord shone with great beauty.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Leaving the dead elephant aside, Lord Kṛṣṇa held on to the tusk and entered the wrestling arena. With the tusk resting on His shoulder, drops of the elephant's blood and sweat sprinkled all over Him, and His lotus face covered with fine drops of His own perspiration, the Lord shone with great beauty.
Commentary

Krsna appeared as the epitome of vira rasa with his lotus faced exuding drops of perspiration like drops of dew mixed with the drops of blood and mada from the elephant, with the tusk perched on his shoulder.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

He held one tusk in his left hand and Balarāma pulled out the other tusk since it is mentioned in the next verse that they held the tusks as weapons. He slightly entered the gate of the arena (āviśat) with special beauty, walking like an intoxicated elephant (sam). His face was ornamented with drops of blood as if he had been painted and had drops of perspiration appearing colourfully or excellently (vi—rūḍha). Since it is impossible for transformations (such as perspiration) to occur in form of eternity, knowledge and bliss, such unlimited qualities appear and disappear according to pastimes. His face was like a lotus that becomes beautiful with drops of water on it.

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
BG 15.9 BG 17.20 BG 18.64 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 12.3 SB 4.29.2 BG 9.11 BG 8.2 BG 17.4 BG 7.8 BG 10.3 BG 13.1 BG 5.18 BG 6.5 BG 1.1
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Leaving the dead elephant aside, Kṛṣṇa carries the tusk into the arena — drops of blood, sweat, and His own perspiration on His lotus face — shining brilliantly. Even bloody pastimes leave the Lord radiant; victory wears its evidence with grace.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you hide the evidence of recent battles instead of carrying it with dignity?
  • How do you stay radiant after hard victories rather than collapsing into the next worry?
Analogy

Kṛṣṇa walks into Kaṁsa's arena with a bloody tusk on His shoulder and beads of His own sweat on His face like dew on a lotus. Beauty and battle on one body: this is the Bhāgavata's mādhurya in martial register, the same Lord who plays the flute now perfumed with elephant-blood and looking even more beautiful for it.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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