FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.44.32

नि:सारयत दुर्वृत्तौ वसुदेवात्मजौ पुरात् । धनं हरत गोपानां नन्दं बध्नीत दुर्मतिम् ॥ ३२ ॥
niḥsārayata durvṛttau
[nihsaarayata durvrittau]
vasudevātmajau purāt
[vasudevaatmajau puraat]
dhanaṁ harata gopānāṁ
[dhanam harata gopaanaam]
nandaṁ badhnīta durmatim
[nandam badhneeta durmatim]
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 .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
niḥsārayata durvṛttau
niḥsārayata
expel
durvṛttau
who behave wickedly
vasudevātmajau purāt
vasudeva - ātmajau
the two sons of Vasudeva
purāt
from the city
dhanaṁ harata gopānāṁ
dhanam
the wealth
harata
take away
gopānām
of the cowherds
nandaṁ badhnīta durmatim
nandam
Nanda Mahārāja
badhnīta
tie up
durmatim
the fool, whose heart is crooked .
  • niḥsārayata — drive out
    Imperative plural of niḥ + √sṛ (causal: to cause to go out). The verb of exile — used for those who 'cause others to go out'. Ironically, Kaṁsa is the one who is about to be 'caused to go out' of his throne and body.
  • durvṛttau — the two wicked-acting (boys)
    Dual of durvṛtta — ill-conducted. Kaṁsa labels Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma wicked. The Bhāgavatam preserves the slander as documentary evidence; the demon's last vocabulary is recorded so dharma may catalogue what it overcame.
  • harata — seize
    Imperative plural of √hṛ. The demoniac use of hara — to take by force. Cf. verse 38 where Kṛṣṇa is Hari (the one who takes the demon). Two flavors of the same root: taking-for-greed and taking-for-mercy.
  • durmatim — fool, evil-minded one
    Compound: dur (bad) + mati (mind). Used by Kaṁsa of Nanda. The Bhāgavatam keeps the demon's slander accurate-as-record; Gauḍīyas note that Nanda is in fact the topmost vātsalya-bhakta, and Kaṁsa's word names the opposite of what it points at.
[Kaṁsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds’ property and arrest that fool Nanda!
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
[Kaṁsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds' property and arrest that fool Nanda!
Commentary

"Drive out the two wicked sons of Vasudeva" can also mean "Give these boys of unattainable qualities the best position in the city. Protect Krsna, the treasure of the cowherd men. Tie up Nanda whose intelligence is perfect with ropes of affection. Establish affectionate relationship with him."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The two boys were evil because they killed the wrestlers in the matches. Others should fight with the two since they are sons of Vasudeva. Since no one can defeat them, they should be driven from the city. The statement also confirms that the two boys had greater attraction for the forests as dwellers in the forest. They were his nephews. Nanda is considered evil since he had friendship with Vasudeva. Out of ignorance Nanda is protecting my enemies. Capture him but do not kill him.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Drive the boys from our city since they are evil, having killed the wrestlers while playing. This is reasonable since they are sons of Vasudeva. They are similar to their father. The real meaning however is that they have proper behaviour, being merciful even to the wicked (durvṛttau) since they are Vasudeva’s sons. Forcibly seize the dairy products brought by the cowherds. Making many offerings at once can cause problems for us. Bind Nanda with chains because he is wicked. Secretly he protected my enemy. The real meanings is “He is merciful even to the wicked.” Nanda-gopaś ca durmedhā pāpeṣv abhirato mama Āyaṣair nigaḍākārair loha-pāśāir nigṛhyatām Crafty Nanda is absorbed in sins. He should be bound with iron chains. Hari-vaṁsa Nando ‘pi gṛyatāṁ pāpo nigaḍair āyaṣair iha Sinful Nanda should be bound with iron chains. Viṣṇu Purāṇa He gave this instruction because he was afraid of the cowherds. Or naturally bad words came from his mouth in order to cause danger to best of the devotees.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
Kaṁsa orders: drive out Vasudeva's wicked sons, confiscate cowherds' property, arrest Nanda! In panic, tyranny issues sweeping orders that target the innocent — the response to losing demons in is to attack civilians.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you take out failure on bystanders rather than facing the loss?
  • What sweeping reactive orders has your inner Kaṁsa issued recently?

Drive out the sons of Vasudeva, confiscate the cowherds' property, arrest Nanda — Kaṁsa, beaten, falls back on bureaucratic violence. When demoniac power loses the field, it always retreats to paperwork. The decree is barked at the air.

📝 My note

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