FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.50.22

हरि: परानीकपयोमुचां मुहु: शिलीमुखात्युल्बणवर्षपीडितम् । स्वसैन्यमालोक्य सुरासुरार्चितं व्यस्फूर्जयच्छार्ङ्गशरासनोत्तमम् ॥ २२ ॥
hariḥ parānīka-payomucāṁ muhuḥ
[harih paraaneeka-payomuchaam muhuh]
śilīmukhāty-ulbaṇa-varṣa-pīḍitam
[shileemukhaaty-ulbana-varsha-peeditam]
sva-sainyam ālokya surāsurārcitaṁ
[sva-sainyam aalokya suraasuraarchitam]
vyasphūrjayac chārṅga-śarāsanottamam
[vyasphoorjayach chaarnga-sharaasanottamam]
Word-for-word
hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa para — of the enemy anīka — of the armies payaḥ - mucām — (which were like) clouds muhuḥ — repeatedly śilīmukha — of their arrows ati — extremely ulbaṇa — fearsome varṣa — by the rain pīḍitam — pained sva — His own sainyam — army ālokya — seeing sura — by demigods asura — and demons arcitam — worshiped vyasphūrjayat — He twanged śārṅga — known as Śārṅga śara - asana — His bow uttamam — most excellent .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
hariḥ parānīka-payomucāṁ muhuḥ
hariḥ
Lord Kṛṣṇa
para
of the enemy
anīka
of the armies
payaḥ - mucām
(which were like) clouds
muhuḥ
repeatedly
śilīmukhāty-ulbaṇa-varṣa-pīḍitam
śilīmukha
of their arrows
ati
extremely
ulbaṇa
fearsome
varṣa
by the rain
pīḍitam
pained
sva-sainyam ālokya surāsurārcitaṁ
sva
His own
sainyam
army
ālokya
seeing
sura
by demigods
asura
and demons
arcitam
worshiped
vyasphūrjayac chārṅga-śarāsanottamam
vyasphūrjayat
He twanged
śārṅga
known as Śārṅga
śara - asana
His bow
uttamam
most excellent .
Important Words
  • śārṅga — the bow Śārṅga
    Viṣṇu's eternal bow, made from horn (śṛṅga). Mentioned at SB 8.20–21 in the Vāmana-līlā as well. In Gauḍīya iconography Śārṅga is one of the five eternal weapons of Viṣṇu (with Sudarśana, Kaumodakī, Nandaka, Pāñcajanya).
  • sura-asura-arcitam — worshipped by gods and demons
    Compound. Both devas and asuras worship the bow — because both fear it, and because both recognize it as Viṣṇu-svarūpa. Gauḍīyas note: even the demonic, in their hour of awe, acknowledge Bhagavān; they only fail to surrender.
  • payaḥ-mucām — of those who release water — clouds
    Compound (payas + muc): 'water-releasers.' A poetic kenning for clouds. The enemy army is again likened to rain-cloud; Kṛṣṇa's arrow-rain will be the sun that disperses it.
  • vyasphūrjayat — He twanged
    Vi + √sphūrj — to thunder, to roar. The bow-twang is itself sonic warfare. Compare the conch in v.16 — Kṛṣṇa's instruments enter battle through their sound first, the projectiles only afterward.
Seeing His army tormented by the relentless and savage rain of arrows from the massive opposing forces gathered like clouds about Him, Lord Hari twanged His excellent bow, Śārṅga, which both gods and demons worship.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Seeing His army tormented by the relentless and savage rain of arrows from the massive opposing forces gathered like clouds about Him, Lord Hari twanged His excellent bow, Śārṅga, which both gods and demons worship.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Kṛṣṇa (harih) would destroy (saṁhārati) the enemy. Kṛṣṇa’s troops were terrified by the arrows of the enemy, but not wounded by them for it is said that his troops remained intact (verse 35). This happened by his great skills. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, vyashpurjayat means “he pulled the bow string and took aim.”

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)
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
AsanaJiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Seeing His army tormented by relentless arrows from cloud-like opposing forces, Hari twangs His excellent bow Śārṅga, worshiped by gods and demons. Even worshiped weapons are used; the Lord doesn't keep them ornamental.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'worshiped weapon' in your life have you displayed but not used?
  • Where would actually employing a sacred capacity change a situation?
Analogy

Lord Hari twangs Śārṅga — the bow worshipped by gods and demons alike — and the air itself acquires sides: the friends of the Lord stand on one shore, his enemies become the river that the arrow will cross. The string-sound is the call of the kingdom's protector.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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