FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.50.19

श्रीभगवानुवाच न वै शूरा विकत्थन्ते दर्शयन्त्येव पौरुषम् । न गृह्णीमो वचो राजन्नातुरस्य मुमूर्षत: ॥ १९ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
na vai śūrā vikatthante
[na vai shooraa vikatthante]
darśayanty eva pauruṣam
[darshayanty eva paurusham]
na gṛhṇīmo vaco rājann
[na grihneemo vacho raajann]
āturasya mumūrṣataḥ
[aaturasya mumoorshatah]
śrī - bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said na — do not vai — indeed śūrāḥ — heroes vikatthante — boast vainly darśayanti — they show eva — simply pauruṣam — their prowess na gṛhṇīmaḥ — We do not accept vacaḥ — the words rājan — O King āturasya — of one who is mentally agitated mumūrṣataḥ — who is about to die .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī - bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Lord said
na vai śūrā vikatthante
na
do not
vai
indeed
śūrāḥ
heroes
vikatthante
boast vainly
darśayanty eva pauruṣam
darśayanti
they show
eva
simply
pauruṣam
their prowess
na gṛhṇīmo vaco rājann
na gṛhṇīmaḥ
We do not accept
vacaḥ
the words
rājan
O King
āturasya mumūrṣataḥ
āturasya
of one who is mentally agitated
mumūrṣataḥ
who is about to die .
  • śūrāḥ — heroes
    Plural — a class-statement, not a personal jab. Real śūratva (heroism) shows in action; vikatthana (boast) is its counterfeit. The verse is a small dharma-śāstra embedded in the battle narrative.
  • vikatthante — boast vainly
    Vi + √kath, intensive — to babble, to brag. Gauḍīya ācāryas reuse this term as a warning against ātma-prakāśana, self-display, in spiritual practice: showing one's bhajana is the demonic counterfeit of doing one's bhajana.
  • mumūrṣataḥ — of one about to die
    Desiderative of √mṛ — 'wishing to die.' Genitive of contempt. The Lord identifies Jarāsandha as already psychologically a corpse — his outcome (this birth) is fixed, even if his physical death waits for Bhīma.
  • āturasya — of one mentally agitated
    Ātura — afflicted, feverish. The condition of one who cannot rest in any shelter. From the Bhāgavata standpoint, every non-devotee is ātura; the cure is śaraṇāgati.
The Supreme Lord said: Real heroes do not simply boast but rather show their prowess in action. We cannot take seriously the words of one who is full of anxiety and who wants to die.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: Real heroes do not simply boast but rather show their prowess in action. We cannot take seriously the words of one who is full of anxiety and who wants to die.
Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Kṛṣṇa answers sarcastically, taking his words at face value, in order to instill eagerness in Jarāsandha to fight with him. Heroes do not show bravery by praising themselves. That is well known (vai). “Will you show bravery, being shamed by my words and being cowardly?” We do not accept your words in the heart or ear. Why? You are agitated because you will kill yourself. These are incoherent words of person about to die. Or you wish to die quickly by making me angry with your harsh words.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Bhakti (Devotion)Vinaya (Humility / Modesty)Prema (Divine Love)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)
Related verses
Kṛṣṇa: real heroes don't boast but show prowess in action; we cannot take seriously the words of one anxious and wanting to die. The Lord refuses to engage in verbal contest; action is the only language He accepts.
Reflection Questions
  • Where are you stuck in verbal contest when action would settle the question?
  • How can you tell when boasting masks anxiety?

Kṛṣṇa answers boasting with the calm of one who has already decided the outcome. Heroes show their hands, not their tongues — and the words of a man already mentally dead are not worth quoting. Gauḍīyas read this as Bhagavān's instruction on satya-vacana.

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