SB 10.37.8 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तद्देहत: कर्कटिकाफलोपमाद् व्यसोरपाकृष्य भुजं महाभुज: । अविस्मितोऽयत्नहतारिक: सुरै: प्रसूनवर्षैर्वर्षद्‌भिरीडित: ॥ ८ ॥

Verse text

tad-dehataḥ karkaṭikā-phalopamād vyasor apākṛṣya bhujaṁ mahā-bhujaḥ avismito ’yatna-hatārikaḥ suraiḥ prasūna-varṣair varṣadbhir īḍitaḥ

Synonyms

tat — dehataḥ — from Keśī’s body ; karkaṭikā — phala — a karkaṭikā fruit ; upamāt — which resembled ; vyasoḥ — from which the vital airs had departed ; apākṛṣya — withdrawing ; bhujam — His arm ; mahā — bhujaḥ — the mighty-armed Lord ; avismitaḥ — without undue pride ; ayatna — without effort ; hata — having killed ; arikaḥ — His enemy ; suraiḥ — by the demigods ; prasūna — of flowers ; varṣaiḥ — with downpours ; varṣadbhiḥ — who were raining upon Him ; īḍitaḥ — worshiped .

Translation

The mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa withdrew His arm from Keśī’s body, which now appeared like a long karkaṭikā fruit. Without the least display of pride at having so effortlessly killed His enemy, the Lord accepted the demigods’ worship in the form of flowers rained down from above.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa withdrew His arm from Keśī's body, which now appeared like a long karkaṭikā fruit. Without the least display of pride at having so effortlessly killed His enemy, the Lord accepted the demigods' worship in the form of flowers rained down from above. KB 10.37.8 When the horse was dead, his mouth became loose, and Kṛṣṇa could extract His arm without difficulty. He did not feel any surprise that the Keśī demon was killed so easily, but the demigods in the sky were amazed, and out of their great appreciation they offered Kṛṣṇa greetings by showering flowers.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Kesi’s body burst like an over-ripe melon. In spite of killing the big demon, Krsna was not proud, since he did it very easily. The devas sprinkled flowers and also water to relieve Krsna of fatigue.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

The analogy with the karkaṭikā fruit is described in Viṣṇu Purāṇa: dvipāde pṛṣṭha-pucchārdha śravaṇaikākṣi-nāsike / keśinas te dvidhā bhūte śakale dve virejatuḥ // Keśī’s body was split in two parts each with two feet, half a back and tail, one ear, one eye and one nostril. Though he had effortlessly killed the enemy, Kṛṣṇa did not feel pride mixed with astonishment, thinking “I have killed him.” Or, having killed the enemy he continually smiled (avigata smita= avismnita), since he killed the demon without effort. Parāśara says anāyasta-tanuh ṣvastho hasaṁs tatraiva saṁsthitaḥ: without fatigue and in good health Kṛṣṇa stood and smiled. Having showered flowers, the devatās showered many more flowers. Another version has ayatna-hatārir utsmayaiḥ: he who killed the demon without effort was worshipped by smiling devatās. Parāśara describes what happened after this. tato gopyaś ca gopāś ca hate keśini vismitāḥ / tuṣṭuvuḥ puṇḍarīkākṣam anurāga-manoramam // When Keśī was killed the cowherds and gopīs were astonished. They praised lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, attractive with anurāga. Vaiśampāyana says: taṁ hataṁ keśinaṁ dṛṣṭvā gopā gopastriyaś ca tāḥ / babhūvur muditāḥ sarve hatavighnā hataklamāḥ // dāmodaraṁ ca śrīmantam yathāsthānaṁ yathā vayaḥ / abhyanandan priyair vākyaiḥ pūjayantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ // Seeing Keśī dead, the cowherds and their wives were overjoyed. They were free of all obstacles and fatigue. They welcomed beautiful Kṛṣṇa according to age and place with pleasing words and worshipped him again and again.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

The analogy with the karkaṭikā fruit is described in Viṣṇu Purāṇa: dvipāde pṛṣṭha-pucchārdha śravaṇaikākṣi-nāsike / keśinas te dvidhā bhūte śakale dve virejatuḥ // Keśī’s body was split in two parts each with two feet, half a back and tail, one ear, one eye and one nostril. He withdrew his arm, since his back had been split open or by expanding it from within. His arm is called huge because it expanded within Keśī’s body or it was by nature huge. It is by nature unlimited. Though very small, the Lord is very large, and though large, is also very small. “expansion” is from the external view. Though he easily killed the demon he was not proud (avismitaḥ). Or though he killed the fierce demon, he continued to smile since he killed him without effort. Anāyasta-tanuḥ svastho hasaṁs tatraiva saṁsthitaḥ: Kṛṣṇa remained there without pain and smiled. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa) Now without fear, the devatās became joyful and showered many (varṣaiḥ) flowers. The devatās who showered blessings on others showered flowers. By killing Keśī, their giving blessings was fulfilled. Out of great joy they gave many blessings to the cowherds. The word sura means “those who give glory (suśobhanaṁ rānti).”