Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.1.33
मातृष्वस्रेयो वश्चैद्यो दन्तवक्रश्च पाण्डव ।
पार्षदप्रवरौ विष्णोर्विप्रशापात्पदच्युतौ ॥ ३३ ॥
mātṛ-ṣvasreyo vaś caidyo
[maatri-shvasreyo vash chaidyo]
dantavakraś ca pāṇḍava
[dantavakrash cha paandava]
pārṣada-pravarau viṣṇor
[paarshada-pravarau vishnor]
vipra-śāpāt pada-cyutau
[vipra-shaapaat pada-chyutau]
Word-for-word
mātṛ-svasreyaḥ
—
the son of the mother’s sister (Śiśupāla)
vaḥ
—
your
caidyaḥ
—
King Śiśupāla
dantavakraḥ
—
Dantavakra
ca
—
and
pāṇḍava
—
O Pāṇḍava
pārṣada-pravarau
—
two exalted attendants
viṣṇoḥ
—
of Viṣṇu
vipra
—
by brāhmaṇas
śāpāt
—
because of a curse
pada
—
from their position in Vaikuṇṭha
cyutau
—
fallen.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mātṛ-ṣvasreyo vaś caidyo
mātṛ-svasreyaḥ
the son of the mother’s sister (Śiśupāla)
vaḥ
your
caidyaḥ
King Śiśupāla
dantavakraś ca pāṇḍava
dantavakraḥ
Dantavakra
ca
and
pāṇḍava
O Pāṇḍava
pārṣada-pravarau viṣṇor
pārṣada-pravarau
two exalted attendants
viṣṇoḥ
of Viṣṇu
vipra-śāpāt pada-cyutau
vipra
by brāhmaṇas
śāpāt
because of a curse
pada
from their position in Vaikuṇṭha
cyutau
fallen.
Nārada Muni continued: O best of the Pāṇḍavas, your two cousins Śiśupāla and Dantavakra, the sons of your maternal aunt, were formerly associates of Lord Viṣṇu, but because they were cursed by brāhmaṇas, they fell from Vaikuṇṭha to this material world.
Purport
Śiśupāla and Dantavakra were not ordinary demons, but were formerly personal associates of Lord Viṣṇu. They apparently fell to this material world, but actually they came to assist the Supreme Personality of Godhead by nourishing His pastimes within this world.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O Pāṇḍava! Your two cousins Śiśupāla and Dantavakra, the sons of your maternal aunt, were formerly associates of Lord Viṣṇu, but because they were cursed by brāhmaṇas, they fell from Vaikuṇṭha to this material world.
Having come to a conclusion about the topic of Śiśupāla in terms of the path of bhāva, the cause of Śiśupāla’s hatred of Kṛṣṇa is now explained. Pada-cyutau means “the two fell from Vaikuṇṭha.”
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Personal Guidance
Śiśupāla and Dantavakra were not random demons — they were associates of Viṣṇu who fell because of a brāhmaṇa's curse. The deepest enmity in this world may be a costume worn by friends of the Lord for a particular līlā. Reality is more layered than enmity suggests.
Reflection Questions
- Who in your life looks like an enemy but may be playing a needed role in your story?
- How does this verse change your reading of cosmic 'good guys' and 'bad guys'?
My note
Source: vedabase.io