Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.44.40
तस्यानुजा भ्रातरोऽष्टौ कङ्कन्यग्रोधकादय: । अभ्यधावन्नतिक्रुद्धा भ्रातुर्निर्वेशकारिण: ॥ ४० ॥
tasyānujā bhrātaro ’ṣṭau
[tasyaanujaa bhraataro ’shtau]
kaṅka-nyagrodhakādayaḥ
[kanka-nyagrodhakaadayah]
abhyadhāvann ati-kruddhā
[abhyadhaavann ati-kruddhaa]
bhrātur nirveśa-kāriṇaḥ
[bhraatur nirvesha-kaarinah]
Word-for-word
tasya
—
of him, Kaṁsa
anujāḥ
—
younger
bhrātaraḥ
—
the brothers
aṣṭau
—
eight
kaṅka - nyagrodhaka - ādayaḥ
—
Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka and the others
abhyadhāvan
—
ran forward to attack
ati - kruddhāḥ
—
infuriated
bhrātuḥ
—
to their brother
nirveśa
—
repayment of the debt
kāriṇaḥ
—
doing .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyānujā bhrātaro ’ṣṭau
tasya
of him, Kaṁsa
anujāḥ
younger
bhrātaraḥ
the brothers
aṣṭau
eight
kaṅka-nyagrodhakādayaḥ
kaṅka - nyagrodhaka - ādayaḥ
Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka and the others
abhyadhāvann ati-kruddhā
abhyadhāvan
ran forward to attack
ati - kruddhāḥ
infuriated
bhrātur nirveśa-kāriṇaḥ
bhrātuḥ
to their brother
nirveśa
repayment of the debt
kāriṇaḥ
doing .
Important Words
-
anujāḥ bhrātaraḥ
—
younger brothers
Compound: anuja (born-after) + bhrātṛ (brother). The Bhāgavatam keeps the kinship-vocabulary in place — these are not anonymous attackers; they are family. The chapter has been about family the whole time.
-
kaṅka - nyagrodhaka - ādayaḥ
—
Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka, and the others
Compound: two named (Kaṅka the heron, Nyagrodhaka the banyan) + ādi (et cetera). The Bhāgavatam names only two; the rest are implied. The chorus of demoniac names is briefer the closer to the chapter's end — the catalogue is exhausting itself.
-
nirveśa - kāriṇaḥ
—
seeking to discharge a debt
Compound: nirveśa (discharge of debt, compensation) + kārin (doer). They are 'discharging the debt' of brotherly vengeance. The Bhāgavatam grants them the kinship-honor of trying; it will not grant them the outcome.
-
ati - kruddhāḥ
—
extremely enraged
Compound: ati (very) + kruddha (angered). The verse's only adjective for them — pure passion, no strategy. Cf. BG 16.4 — krodha as a marker of āsurī sampad. The brothers carry their brother's signature.
Kaṁsa’s eight younger brothers, led by Kaṅka and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a rage, seeking to avenge their brother’s death.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Kaṁsa's eight younger brothers, led by Kaṅka and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a rage, seeking to avenge their brother's death.
Commentary
Kamsa’s brothers pursued Krsna to absolve themselves of debt to their brother (nirvesakarinah).
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
Instead of anujā (younger brothers) sometimes anugā (followers) is seen. In any case their natures were similar to Kaṁsa’s. They attacked Kṛṣṇa on all sides, or facing him. Or they attacked without fear (abhi), rushing quickly.
Related values & verses
Related values
Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Kritajnata (Gratitude)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Satya (Truthfulness)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Saurya (Heroism / Bravery)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Kaṁsa's eight younger brothers — led by Kaṅka and Nyagrodhaka — attack the Lords in rage to avenge their brother. Networks of demons share each other's grudges; cutting one head exposes the family.
Reflection Questions
- What 'younger brothers' of a fallen problem are still circling for revenge?
- Where do you need to be ready for the network response after a primary victory?
Analogy
Kaṁsa's eight younger brothers charge in to avenge him — like the last embers of a house-fire flaring up after the central beam has fallen. Their fury has no future; it has only inertia.
My note
Source: vedabase.io