FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.56.14

प्रसेनं सहयं हत्वा मणिमाच्छिद्य केशरी । गिरिं विशन् जाम्बवता निहतो मणिमिच्छता ॥ १४ ॥
prasenaṁ sa-hayaṁ hatvā
[prasenam sa-hayam hatvaa]
maṇim ācchidya keśarī
[manim aachchidya kesharee]
giriṁ viśan jāmbavatā
[girim vishan jaambavataa]
nihato maṇim icchatā
[nihato manim ichchataa]
Word-for-word
prasenam — Prasena sa — along with hayam — his horse hatvā — killing maṇim — the jewel ācchidya — seizing keśarī — a lion girim — (a cave in) a mountain viśan — entering jāmbavatā — by Jāmbavān, the king of the bears nihataḥ — killed maṇim — the jewel icchatā — who wanted .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prasenaṁ sa-hayaṁ hatvā
prasenam
Prasena
sa
along with
hayam
his horse
hatvā
killing
maṇim ācchidya keśarī
maṇim
the jewel
ācchidya
seizing
keśarī
a lion
giriṁ viśan jāmbavatā
girim
(a cave in) a mountain
viśan
entering
jāmbavatā
by Jāmbavān, the king of the bears
nihato maṇim icchatā
nihataḥ
killed
maṇim
the jewel
icchatā
who wanted .
Important Words
  • keśarī — lion
    Lit. 'maned one'. The same Sanskrit term that names Hanumān's father Kesarī — quietly anticipating Jāmbavān's later recognition that this is Rāma returned. The forest of this chapter is haunted by the Rāmāyaṇa.
  • jāmbavatā — by Jāmbavān
    Instrumental. The king of the bears (ṛkṣa-rāja), Hanumān's friend at the building of the bridge. His name enters the chapter as a killer of lions; he will exit as Kṛṣṇa's father-in-law and confessor. The longest narrative arc per character in the Bhāgavatam.
  • icchatā — who wanted
    Present participle of √iṣ. Even Jāmbavān, the great devotee, begins this chapter as one who wants — the gem. The Bhāgavatam will gently strip every desire from him except darśana of his Lord.
A lion killed Prasena and his horse and took the jewel. But when the lion entered a mountain cave he was killed by Jāmbavān, who wanted the jewel.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A lion killed Prasena and his horse and took the jewel. But when the lion entered a mountain cave he was killed by Jāmbavān, who wanted the jewel.
Commentary

Killing Prasena, the lion took (acchidya) the jewel.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The lion killed Prasena because violence was its nature. It took the jewel because it was most valuable. Such actions of collecting curious items are seen in mice and other animals.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The lion killed Prasena because it was very strong and amazing. Jambavān killed the lion, tearing him apart with his nails (nihataḥ).

Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Bhakti (Devotion)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Vinaya (Humility / Modesty)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)Kartavya (Duty / Responsibility)
Related verses
SB 1.2BG 15.7 BG 2.60 BG 3.11 BG 6.35 BG 12.6 BG 17.3 BG 15.2 BG 5.4 BG 6.47 BG 12.5 BG 3.19
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
A lion kills Prasena and his horse and takes the jewel; entering a cave, the lion is killed by Jāmbavān, who wanted the jewel. The chain of takings from violence is rapid; once the jewel is no longer in proper hands, it kills successively.
Reflection Questions
  • What resource in your life has begun a chain of takings because it was withheld from rightful use?
  • How do you stop a 'jewel-chain' before it kills more carriers?
Analogy

A chain of greed: man wants gem, lion wants man, bear wants gem from lion. Every link except the last is killed by the next. The Bhāgavatam diagrams saṁsāra in a single forest scene.

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Source: vedabase.io

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