Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.37.31
स निजं रूपमास्थाय गिरीन्द्रसदृशं बली ।
इच्छन्विमोक्तुमात्मानं नाशक्नोद्ग्रहणातुर: ॥ ३१ ॥
sa nijaṁ rūpam āsthāya
[sa nijam roopam aasthaaya]
girīndra-sadṛśaṁ balī
[gireendra-sadrisham balee]
icchan vimoktum ātmānaṁ
[ichchan vimoktum aatmaanam]
nāśaknod grahaṇāturaḥ
[naashaknod grahanaaturah]
Word-for-word
saḥ
—
he, the demon
nijam
—
his original
rūpam
—
form
āsthāya
—
assuming
giri - indra
—
a kingly mountain
sadṛśam
—
just like
balī
—
powerful
icchan
—
wanting
vimoktum
—
to free
ātmānam
—
himself
na aśaknot
—
he was not able
grahaṇa
—
by being forcibly held
āturaḥ
—
debilitated .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa nijaṁ rūpam āsthāya
saḥ
he, the demon
nijam
his original
rūpam
form
āsthāya
assuming
girīndra-sadṛśaṁ balī
giri - indra
a kingly mountain
sadṛśam
just like
balī
powerful
icchan vimoktum ātmānaṁ
icchan
wanting
vimoktum
to free
ātmānam
himself
nāśaknod grahaṇāturaḥ
na aśaknot
he was not able
grahaṇa
by being forcibly held
āturaḥ
debilitated .
Important Words
-
nijam-rūpam
—
his original form
Nija (own) + rūpa (form). The demon reverts to his true shape. Gauḍīyas note: this is the moment māyā exhausts itself — once caught, illusion can only return to what it actually was.
-
giri-indra-sadṛśam
—
resembling the king of mountains
Giri (mountain) + indra (chief) + sadṛśa (similar). Mountain-sized. The compound deliberately recalls Govardhana, whom Kṛṣṇa will hold on one finger — the same boy holds this mountain-sized asura just as easily.
-
grahaṇa-āturaḥ
—
debilitated by being held
Grahaṇa (seizing) + ātura (afflicted, weakened). The demon is enfeebled merely by being in the Lord's hand. Gauḍīyas read this gently: even being held by Kṛṣṇa undoes the asura — the grip itself is the medicine.
The demon changed into his original form, as big and powerful as a great mountain. But try as he might to free himself, he could not do so, having lost his strength from being held in the Lord’s tight grip.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The demon changed into his original form, as big and powerful as a great mountain. But try as he might to free himself, he could not do so, having lost his strength from being held in the Lord's tight grip.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
Though he was strong (balī) and though he wanted to free himself, and though he changed to his original form, he could not get free.
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
The demon was like a huge mountain and very hard. Though he was strong, he could not free himself because he was helpless in the Lord’s grip.
Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Prema (Divine Love)
Related verses
BG 15.9
BG 9.1
BG 4.8
BG 10.1
BG 18.64
BG 15.7
BG 2.62
BG 3.11
BG 10.4
BG 12.3
BG 15.2
SB 4.29.2
BG 2.21
BG 16.1
BG 9.11
BG 3.30
BG 7.1
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
Vyoma resumes his original mountain-like form and struggles to free himself but cannot, having lost strength in the Lord's grip. Even gigantic problems lose their power once Kṛṣṇa actually holds them.
Reflection Questions
- What 'mountain-sized' problem could shrink in honest spiritual surrender today?
- Where are you still attempting to release yourself from what only Kṛṣṇa can release?
Analogy
Caught, Vyoma drops the costume and assumes his real form — vast as a mountain. The mountain-sized demon strains against the cowherd boy's grip and finds himself unable to move. Size is no longer a metric; the held-ness is.
My note
Source: vedabase.io