FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.8

यत्सन्निधावहमु खांडवमग्नयेऽदा- मिन्द्रं च सामरगणं तरसा विजित्य । लब्धा सभा मयकृताद्भुतशिल्पमाया दिग्भ्योऽहरन्नृपतयो बलिमध्वरे ते ॥ ८ ॥
yat-sannidhāv aham u khāṇḍavam agnaye ’dām
[yat-sannidhaav aham u khaandavam agnaye ’daam]
indraṁ ca sāmara-gaṇaṁ tarasā vijitya
[indram cha saamara-ganam tarasaa vijitya]
labdhā sabhā maya-kṛtādbhuta-śilpa-māyā
[labdhaa sabhaa maya-kritaadbhuta-shilpa-maayaa]
digbhyo ’haran nṛpatayo balim adhvare te
[digbhyo ’haran nripatayo balim adhvare te]
yat — whose sannidhau — being nearby aham — myself u — note of astonishment khāṇḍavam — the protected forest of Indra, King of heaven agnaye — unto the fire-god adām — delivered indram — Indra ca — also sa — along with amara-gaṇam — the demigods tarasā — with all dexterity vijitya — having conquered labdhā — having obtained sabhā — assembly house maya-kṛtā — built by Maya adbhuta — very wonderful śilpa — art and workmanship māyā — potency digbhyaḥ — from all directions aharan — collected nṛpatayaḥ — all princes balim — presentations adhvare — brought te — your.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yat-sannidhāv aham u khāṇḍavam agnaye ’dām
yat
whose
sannidhau
being nearby
aham
myself
u
note of astonishment
khāṇḍavam
the protected forest of Indra, King of heaven
agnaye
unto the fire-god
indraṁ ca sāmara-gaṇaṁ tarasā vijitya
labdhā sabhā maya-kṛtādbhuta-śilpa-māyā
adām
delivered
indram
Indra
ca
also
sa
along with
amara-gaṇam
the demigods
digbhyo ’haran nṛpatayo balim adhvare te
tarasā
with all dexterity
vijitya
having conquered
labdhā
having obtained
sabhā
assembly house
maya-kṛtā
built by Maya
adbhuta
very wonderful
śilpa
art and workmanship
māyā
potency
digbhyaḥ
from all directions
aharan
collected
nṛpatayaḥ
all princes
balim
presentations
adhvare
brought
te
your.
Because He was near me, it was possible for me to conquer with great dexterity the powerful King of heaven, Indradeva, along with his demigod associates and thus enable the fire-god to devastate the Khāṇḍava Forest. And only by His grace was the demon named Maya saved from the blazing Khāṇḍava Forest, and thus we could build our assembly house of wonderful architectural workmanship, where all the princes assembled during the performance of Rājasūya-yajña and paid you tributes.

The demon Maya Dānava was an inhabitant of the forest Khāṇḍava, and when the Khāṇḍava Forest was set on fire, he asked protection from Arjuna. Arjuna saved his life, and as a result of this the demon felt obliged. He reciprocated by building a wonderful assembly house for the Pāṇḍavas, which attracted the extraordinary attention of all state princes. They felt the supernatural power of the Pāṇḍavas, and thus without grudge all of them submitted and paid tributes to the Emperor. The demons possess wonderful and supernatural powers to create material wonders. But they are always disturbing elements of the society. The modern demons are the harmful material scientists who create some material wonders for disturbance in the society. For example, the creation of nuclear weapons has caused some panic in human society. Maya was also a materialist like that, and he knew the art of creating such wonderful things. And yet Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to kill him. When he was chased both by the fire and by the wheel of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he took shelter of such a devotee as Arjuna, who saved him from the wrath of the fire of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Devotees are therefore more merciful than the Lord, and in devotional service the mercy of a devotee is more valuable than the mercy of the Lord. Both the fire and the Lord ceased from chasing the demon as soon as both of them saw that the demon was given shelter by such a devotee as Arjuna. This demon, feeling obliged to Arjuna, wanted to do him some service to show his gratefulness, but Arjuna declined to accept anything from him in exchange. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, however, being pleased with Maya for his taking shelter of a devotee, asked him to render service unto King Yudhiṣṭhira by building a wonderful assembly house. The process is that by the grace of the devotee the mercy of the Lord is obtained, and by the mercy of the Lord a chance to serve the Lord’s devotee is obtained. The club of Bhīmasena was also a gift of Maya Dānava.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In his company, I conquered with my strength Indra and the devatās, gave the Khāṇḍava forest to Agni, obtained the assembly hall of wonderful construction made by Maya, and presented it to you as a gift at the Rājasūya sacrifice where kings from all directions had assembled.
Commentary

U expresses astonishment. The Khāṇḍava forest belonged to Indra. I obtained the hall made by Maya whom I saved from the burning forest. In that marvelous hall, the sacrifice was held.

Because He was near, I conquered Indra in the Khāṇḍava devastation. By His grace I built the Indraprastha assembly. Even celestial victories were proximity gifts.
Reflection Questions
  • What recent 'celestial' achievement was actually His nearness?
  • Where am I attributing to skill what was really proximity?
📝 My note

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