Devanagari
किं क्षेमशूरैर्विबुधैरसंयुगविकत्थनै: ।
रहोजुषा किं हरिणा शम्भुना वा वनौकसा ।
किमिन्द्रेणाल्पवीर्येण ब्रह्मणा वा तपस्यता ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
kiṁ kṣema-śūrair vibudhair
asaṁyuga-vikatthanaiḥ
raho-juṣā kiṁ hariṇā
śambhunā vā vanaukasā
kim indreṇālpa-vīryeṇa
brahmaṇā vā tapasyatā
Synonyms
kim
—
what is there to fear
;
kṣema
—
in a place where there is a scarcity of the ability to fight
;
śūraiḥ
—
by the demigods
;
vibudhaiḥ
—
by such powerful persons
;
asaṁyuga
—
vikatthanaiḥ — by boasting and talking uselessly, away from the fighting
;
rahaḥ
—
juṣā — who is living in a solitary place within the core of the heart
;
kim hariṇā
—
what is the fear from Lord Viṣṇu
;
śambhunā
—
(and what is the fear) from Lord Śiva
;
vā
—
either
;
vana
—
okasā — who is living in the forest
;
kim indreṇa
—
what is the fear from Indra
;
alpa
—
vīryeṇa — he is not at all powerful (having no power to fight with you)
;
brahmaṇā
—
and what is the fear from Brahmā
;
vā
—
either
;
tapasyatā
—
who is always engaged in meditation .
Translation
The demigods boast uselessly while away from the battlefield. Only where there is no fighting can they show their prowess. Therefore, from such demigods we have nothing to fear. As for Lord Viṣṇu, He is in seclusion in the core of the hearts of the yogīs. As for Lord Śiva, he has gone to the forest. And as for Lord Brahmā, he is always engaged in austerities and meditation. The other demigods, headed by Indra, are devoid of prowess. Therefore you have nothing to fear.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The demigods boast uselessly while away from the battlefield. Only where there is no fighting can they show their prowess. Therefore, from such demigods we have nothing to fear. As for Lord Viṣṇu, He is in seclusion in the core of the hearts of the yogīs. As for Lord Śiva, he has gone to the forest. And as for Lord Brahmā, he is always engaged in austerities and meditation. The other demigods, headed by Indra, are devoid of prowess. Therefore you have nothing to fear.
KB 10.4.36
“So actually we have nothing to fear from these demigods. They are very proud of being great fighters in peacetime outside the war field, but actually they cannot show any talent or military power on the war field. Although Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā are always ready to help the demigods, headed by Indra, we have no reason to be afraid of them. As far as Lord Viṣṇu is concerned, He has already hidden Himself within the hearts of all living entities, and He cannot come out. As far as Lord Śiva is concerned, he has renounced all activities; he has already entered into the forest. And Lord Brahmā is always engaged in different types of austerities and meditation. And what to speak of Indra—he is a straw in comparison to your strength. Therefore we have nothing to fear from any of these demigods.
Purport
Kaṁsa’s ministers told Kaṁsa that all the exalted demigods had fled in fear of him. One had gone to the forest, one to the core of the heart, and one to engage in
tapasya.
“Thus you can be free from all fear of the demigods,” they said. “Just prepare to fight.”
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
This verse is spoken to show that they have no fear of the devas. "The devas display courage where there is no danger (ksema suraih) and show pride outside the battlefield (asamyuga vikathanaih) Because you are stronger, you should have no fear of even Hari or Siva. Hari prefers solitary places (raho jusa) . Even if they have strength, why do they not come out and fight? Why does Hari hide within the hearts of the people? And why does Siva stay in the forest in Ilavrta varsa without mixing with people?"
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
“But since the devatās live, they will show their courage.” The ministers answer Kaṁsa with this verse. The devatās boast when they are in the arms of women. Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Viṣṇu is hiding in the heart (raho-jusā). The demons’ meaning is that Viṣṇu is hiding in the milk ocean out of fear of you. Thus they cannot approach your armies. “But Indra will come.” He has little strength. “Brahmā will assist them.” Because of doing austerities he has lost courage and is reluctant to curse, because he fears this will diminish his austerity.