FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.36.37

एतज्ज्ञात्वानय क्षिप्रं रामकृष्णाविहार्भकौ । धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थं द्रष्टुं यदुपुरश्रियम् ॥ ३७ ॥
etaj jñātvānaya kṣipraṁ
[etaj jnaatvaanaya kshipram]
rāma-kṛṣṇāv ihārbhakau
[raama-krishnaav ihaarbhakau]
dhanur-makha-nirīkṣārthaṁ
[dhanur-makha-nireekshaartham]
draṣṭuṁ yadu-pura-śriyam
[drashtum yadu-pura-shriyam]
etat — this jñātvā — knowing ānaya — bring kṣipram — quickly rāma - kṛṣṇau — Rāma and Kṛṣṇa iha — here arbhakau — the young boys dhanuḥ - makha — the bow sacrifice nirīkṣā - artham — in order to witness draṣṭum — to see yadu - pura — of the capital city of the Yadu dynasty śriyam — the opulence .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etaj jñātvānaya kṣipraṁ
etat
this
jñātvā
knowing
ānaya
bring
kṣipram
quickly
rāma-kṛṣṇāv ihārbhakau
rāma - kṛṣṇau
Rāma and Kṛṣṇa
iha
here
arbhakau
the young boys
dhanur-makha-nirīkṣārthaṁ
dhanuḥ - makha
the bow sacrifice
nirīkṣā - artham
in order to witness
draṣṭuṁ yadu-pura-śriyam
draṣṭum
to see
yadu - pura
of the capital city of the Yadu dynasty
śriyam
the opulence .
  • rāma - kṛṣṇau — Rāma and Kṛṣṇa
    Repeated yet again as the dual unit. Each repetition seats the pair more firmly in the chapter's structural center; Kaṁsa cannot finish a sentence without naming them.
  • arbhakau — the two boys, the two children
    Arbhaka — a small child, a boy. Kaṁsa uses the diminutive, perhaps to belittle. Vraja uses the same word constantly out of vātsalya. The same syllables, opposite bhāvas — characteristic of the Bhāgavatam's economy.
  • dhanuḥ - makha — the bow sacrifice
    Dhanus (bow) + makha (sacrifice). Same yāga as verse 26. The bait. Kṛṣṇa's response in SB 10.42 will be to lift the great bow and break it in two — a coronation-act without a coronation.
  • yadu - pura - śriyam — the splendor of the Yadu capital
    Yadu + pura (city) + śrī (splendor). Mathurā. The Bhāgavatam names the city with full reverence; Kaṁsa rules it but does not own it — Kṛṣṇa is its true Lord, returning to claim what was always His.
Now that you understand my intentions, please go at once and bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to watch the bow sacrifice and see the opulence of the Yadus’ capital.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Now that you understand my intentions, please go at once and bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to watch the bow sacrifice and see the opulence of the Yadus' capital.
Commentary

You should not tell this secret plot to others, but you should speak as follows, inviting the boys to the dhanur yajna.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Fooling them by the attractions, you can bring these two foolish children (arbhakau). The bow sacrifice and the splendor of the city will be attractive to boys coming from the forest. Hari-vaṁśa says: vācyaś ca nandagopo vai karam ādāya vārṣikam śīghram āgaccha nagaraṁ gopaiḥ sarvaiḥ samanvitaḥ kṛsṇa-saṅkarṣaṇau caiva vasudeva-sutāv ubhau draṣṭum icchati vai kaṁsaḥ sabhṛtyaḥ sapurohitaḥ etau yuddha-vidau raṅge kāla-nirmāna-yodhinau dṛḍha-pratikṛtī caiva śṛṇomi vyāyatodyamau asmākam api mallau dvau sajjau yuddha-kṛtotsavau tābhyām saha nihyotsyete tau yuddha-kuśalāva ubhau drāṣṭavyau ca mayāvaśyaṁ bālau tāv amaropamau pita-svasuḥ sutau mukhyau vrajavāsau vane carau vaktavyaṁ ca vraje tasmin samīpe vraja-vāsinām raja dhanur makham nāma kāriṣyati vai sukhī sannikṛṣte prajās tatra nivasantu yathā sukham janasyāmantritasyārthe yathā syāt sarvam avyayam payasaḥ sarpiṣaś caiva dadhno dadhyuttarasya ca yathā kāma pradānāya bhojyādhiśrayanāya ca You should speak to Nanda as follows. “Go quickly to Mathurā, bringing your yearly tax with all the cowherds. Kaṁsa, his servants and priests desire to see the sons of Vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. I have heard that the two boys are expert at fighting, fighters who bring death in the arena, determined and most perseverant. Our two wrestlers are prepared for this festive combat. Your two boys, expert at fighting should compete with them.” I must see these two boys living in Vraja, who wander in the forest, the sons of my father’s sister, who are like devatās. You should tell the people of Vraja that the rejoicing king will perform a sacrifice for the bow. The citizens should stay nearby comfortably. For the invited guests there will be unlimited milk, ghee, yogurt, and buttermilk to be given freely and for cooking.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
Kaṁsa tells Akrūra to bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to watch the bow sacrifice and see Mathurā's opulence. The wicked use spectacle and luxury as bait — assuming everyone responds to grandeur as they themselves do.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose offer of 'opulence' to view has been bait you almost took?
  • What spectacle currently calls you to attend that isn't yours to witness?

'Bring the two boys — let them see the bow sacrifice and the splendor of Mathurā.' Cover-story over a death-plot, sightseeing as bait. The Bhāgavatam smiles: yes, the boys will see Mathurā — and Mathurā will see them, and the city's gaze will never recover.

📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 36