शौनक उवाच
कस्य हेतोर्निजग्राह कलिं दिग्विजये नृपः ।
नृदेवचिह्नधृक्षूद्र कोऽसौ गां यः पदाहनत् ।
तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग यदि कृष्णकथाश्रयम् ॥५॥

Å›aunaka uvÄca
kasya hetor nijagrÄha
kaliṠdigvijaye nṛpaḥ
nṛdeva-cihna-dhṛk śūdra-
ko 'sau gÄá¹ yaḥ padÄhanat
tat kathyatÄá¹ mahÄ-bhÄga
yadi kṛṣṇa-kathÄÅ›rayam


Text

Śaunaka said: Why did the king while touring punish Kali but not kill him? The person dressed as a king who was kicking the cow was a very low śūdra.

Purport

Why did he punish him but not kill him (nijagraha)? That low sudra deserved to be killed.