FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.35

सूत उवाच परीक्षितैवमादिष्ट: स कलिर्जातवेपथु: । तमुद्यतासिमाहेदं दण्डपाणिमिवोद्यतम् ॥ ३५ ॥
sūta uvāca
[soota uvaacha]
parīkṣitaivam ādiṣṭaḥ
[pareekshitaivam aadishtah]
sa kalir jāta-vepathuḥ
[sa kalir jaata-vepathuh]
tam udyatāsim āhedaṁ
[tam udyataasim aahedam]
daṇḍa-pāṇim ivodyatam
[danda-paanim ivodyatam]
sūtaḥ uvāca — Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said parīkṣitā — by Mahārāja Parīkṣit evam — thus ādiṣṭaḥ — being ordered saḥ — he kaliḥ — the personality of Kali jāta — there was vepathuḥ — trembling tam — him udyata — raised asim — sword āha — said idam — thus daṇḍa-pāṇim — Yamarāja, the personality of death iva — like udyatam — almost ready.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sūta uvāca
sūtaḥ uvāca
Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said
parīkṣitaivam ādiṣṭaḥ
parīkṣitā
by Mahārāja Parīkṣit
evam
thus
ādiṣṭaḥ
being ordered
sa kalir jāta-vepathuḥ
saḥ
he
kaliḥ
the personality of Kali
jāta
there was
vepathuḥ
trembling
tam udyatāsim āhedaṁ
tam
him
udyata
raised
asim
sword
āha
said
idam
thus
daṇḍa-pāṇim
Yamarāja, the personality of death
daṇḍa-pāṇim ivodyatam
iva
like
udyatam
almost ready.
Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: The personality of Kali, thus being ordered by Mahārāja Parīkṣit, began to tremble in fear. Seeing the King before him like Yamarāja, ready to kill him, Kali spoke to the King as follows.

The King was ready to kill the personality of Kali at once, as soon as he disobeyed his order. Otherwise the King had no objection to allowing him to prolong his life. The personality of Kali also, after attempting to get rid of the punishment in various ways, decided that he must surrender unto him, and thus he began to tremble in fear of his life. The king, or the executive head, must be so strong as to stand before the personality of Kali like the personality of death, Yamarāja. The King’s order must be obeyed, otherwise the culprit’s life is in risk. That is the way to rule the personalities of Kali who create disturbance in the normal life of the state citizens.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sūta said: Directed in this way by Parīkṣit, trembling Kali spoke to Parīkṣit who had his sword raised, appearing like Yama ready to kill him.
Commentary

Parīkṣit had his sword raised (udyatāsim). Kali trembled. This showed his great intelligence in protecting himself. He felt, “He is about to kill me.” The intention of the King was “If he does not follow my order, I will kill him right now. That is my desire. If he obeys my order, though I will not kill him, I do not have any fault.” Danḍa-pāṇim means Yama.

Kali began to tremble in fear, seeing the King before him like Yamarāja ready to kill. The wicked recognize when the just are serious. Fear is the right response to honest force.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could I be more honestly forceful in confronting wrong?
  • What is the right way for me to be 'like Yamarāja' to certain patterns?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 17