FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.43.18

हतं कुवलयापीडं द‍ृष्ट्वा तावपि दुर्जयौ । कंसो मनस्यपि तदा भृशमुद्विविजे नृप ॥ १८ ॥
hataṁ kuvalayāpīḍaṁ
[hatam kuvalayaapeedam]
dṛṣṭvā tāv api durjayau
[drishtvaa taav api durjayau]
kaṁso manasy api tadā
[kamso manasy api tadaa]
bhṛśam udvivije nṛpa
[bhrisham udvivije nripa]
Word-for-word
hatam — killed kuvalayāpīḍam — the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa dṛṣṭvā — seeing tau — the two of Them, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma api — and durjayau — invincible kaṁsaḥ — King Kaṁsa manasi — in his mind api — indeed tadā — then bhṛśam — exceedingly udvivije — became anxious nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit) .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
hataṁ kuvalayāpīḍaṁ
hatam
killed
kuvalayāpīḍam
the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa
dṛṣṭvā tāv api durjayau
dṛṣṭvā
seeing
tau
the two of Them, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
api
and
durjayau
invincible
kaṁso manasy api tadā
kaṁsaḥ
King Kaṁsa
manasi
in his mind
api
indeed
tadā
then
bhṛśam udvivije nṛpa
bhṛśam
exceedingly
udvivije
became anxious
nṛpa
O King (Parīkṣit) .
Important Words
  • durjayau — invincible
    Dual — both are invincible, not Kṛṣṇa alone. Balarāma's tattva is reaffirmed here; the Lord's first expansion is durjaya in His own right. In Gauḍīya analysis this is why Bala-deva is also addressed as bhagavān in many verses.
  • udvivije — became anxious
    Udveja is the technical word for the constant gnawing dread that pursues the demonic mind. Kaṁsa has lived in udvega ever since the prophecy in 10.1; this verse marks the moment the dread becomes total. The Gauḍīya contrast: a devotee feels viraha (separation-distress), an asura feels udvega — both are stirred, but one toward Kṛṣṇa, one away.
  • manasi — in his mind
    Locative — the failure is internal. Externally Kaṁsa still sits on his throne; internally he is already overthrown. Bhāgavata: the asura is defeated in the mind long before the body.
  • bhṛśam — exceedingly
    The intensifier marks the difference between ordinary worry and the dread of one who knows his life is ending. Compare Hiraṇyakaśipu after Prahlāda's protection in 7.5 — bhṛśa-udvega is the standard Bhāgavata signal of an asura nearing his appointed Nṛsiṁha.
When Kaṁsa saw that Kuvalayāpīḍa was dead and the two brothers were invincible, he was overwhelmed with anxiety, O King.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When Kaṁsa saw that Kuvalayāpīḍa was dead and the two brothers were invincible, he was overwhelmed with anxiety, O King.
Commentary

Though Kamsa was very strong, or though he was worried before (manasvi), he became more worried now.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Though the elephant was killed outside the arena, when Kaṁsa mounted the high gallery he could see that the elephant had been killed. He understood the two boys were invincible by seeing that they had killed the elephant and manifested great power. Though Kaṁsa was a powerful fighter, he became disturbed because they showed no fear in facing Kaṁsa. Śukadeva addresses Parīkṣit in joy, since Kaṁsa was now unsettled in mind.

Related values & verses
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Seeing Kuvalayāpīḍa dead and the brothers invincible, Kaṁsa is overwhelmed with anxiety. Backup plans fail visibly; anxiety floods when the schemer realizes his options are running out.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is your inner Kaṁsa watching backup plans collapse and refusing to admit it?
  • What does anxiety reveal about plans that should be released?
Analogy

Kaṁsa sees Kuvalayāpīḍa dead and his last delegation of violence has failed. Anxiety floods the throne. This is what happens when the soul postures against Bhagavān: every shield burns through, until at last the demon has to face the Lord himself.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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