FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.13

तत्रैव मे विहरतो भुजदण्डयुग्मं गाण्डीवलक्षणमरातिवधाय देवा: । सेन्द्रा: श्रिता यदनुभावितमाजमीढ तेनाहमद्य मुषित: पुरुषेण भूम्ना ॥ १३ ॥
tatraiva me viharato bhuja-daṇḍa-yugmaṁ
[tatraiva me viharato bhuja-danda-yugmam]
gāṇḍīva-lakṣaṇam arāti-vadhāya devāḥ
[gaandeeva-lakshanam araati-vadhaaya devaah]
sendrāḥ śritā yad-anubhāvitam ājamīḍha
[sendraah shritaa yad-anubhaavitam aajameedha]
tenāham adya muṣitaḥ puruṣeṇa bhūmnā
[tenaaham adya mushitah purushena bhoomnaa]
Word-for-word
tatra — in that heavenly planet eva — certainly me — myself viharataḥ — while staying as a guest bhuja-daṇḍa-yugmam — both of my arms gāṇḍīva — the bow named Gāṇḍīva lakṣaṇam — mark arāti — a demon named Nivātakavaca vadhāya — for killing devāḥ — all the demigods sa — along with indrāḥ — the heavenly King, Indra śritāḥ — taken shelter of yat — by whose anubhāvitam — made it possible to be powerful ājamīḍha — O descendant of King Ajamīḍha tena — by Him aham — myself adya — at the present moment muṣitaḥ — bereft of puruṣeṇa — the personality bhūmnā — supreme.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tatraiva me viharato bhuja-daṇḍa-yugmaṁ
tatra
in that heavenly planet
eva
certainly
me
myself
viharataḥ
while staying as a guest
bhuja-daṇḍa-yugmam
both of my arms
gāṇḍīva-lakṣaṇam arāti-vadhāya devāḥ
gāṇḍīva
the bow named Gāṇḍīva
lakṣaṇam
mark
arāti
a demon named Nivātakavaca
vadhāya
for killing
devāḥ
all the demigods
sa
along with
indrāḥ
the heavenly King, Indra
sendrāḥ śritā yad-anubhāvitam ājamīḍha
śritāḥ
taken shelter of
yat
by whose
anubhāvitam
made it possible to be powerful
ājamīḍha
O descendant of King Ajamīḍha
tenāham adya muṣitaḥ puruṣeṇa bhūmnā
tena
by Him
aham
myself
adya
at the present moment
muṣitaḥ
bereft of
puruṣeṇa
the personality
bhūmnā
supreme.
When I stayed for some days as a guest in the heavenly planets, all the heavenly demigods, including King Indradeva, took shelter of my arms, which were marked with the Gāṇḍīva bow, to kill the demon named Nivātakavaca. O King, descendant of Ajamīḍha, at the present moment I am bereft of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose influence I was so powerful.
Purport

The heavenly demigods are certainly more intelligent, powerful and beautiful, and yet they had to take help from Arjuna because of his Gāṇḍīva bow, which was empowered by the grace of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The Lord is all-powerful, and by His grace His pure devotee can be as powerful as He may desire, and there is no limit to it. And when the Lord withdraws His power from anyone, he is powerless by the will of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O descendent of Ājamīḍha! I have been abandoned by that great person, by whose power, while I was staying in Svarga, the devatās along with Indra took shelter of my strong arms holding the Gāṇḍiva bow for killing the Nivātakavacas.
Commentary

Arāti means Nivātakavaca demons. The devatās took shelter of me for killing them. Yad-anubhāvitam here means “by taking powers from Kṛṣṇa.” I have been given up (muṣitaḥ) by that excellent (bhūmnā) person.

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
When I stayed in heavenly planets, even Indra took shelter of my arms to kill Nivātakavaca. Even gods need help. No one is too high to lean on a devotee — when the Lord is behind him.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose request for help should I answer, knowing the Lord stands behind me?
  • Where am I deflecting from being useful because I underestimate the backing I have?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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