Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.56.4
स तं बिभ्रन् मणिं कण्ठे भ्राजमानो यथा रवि: ।
प्रविष्टो द्वारकां राजन् तेजसा नोपलक्षित: ॥ ४ ॥
sa taṁ bibhran maṇiṁ kaṇṭhe
[sa tam bibhran manim kanthe]
bhrājamāno yathā raviḥ
[bhraajamaano yathaa ravih]
praviṣṭo dvārakāṁ rājan
[pravishto dvaarakaam raajan]
tejasā nopalakṣitaḥ
[tejasaa nopalakshitah]
Word-for-word
saḥ
—
he, King Satrājit
tam
—
that
bibhrat
—
wearing
maṇim
—
jewel
kaṇṭhe
—
on his neck
bhrājamānaḥ
—
shining brilliantly
yathā
—
like
raviḥ
—
the sun
praviṣṭaḥ
—
having entered
dvārakām
—
the city of Dvārakā
rājan
—
O King (Parīkṣit)
tejasā
—
because of the effulgence
na
—
not
upalakṣitaḥ
—
recognized .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa taṁ bibhran maṇiṁ kaṇṭhe
saḥ
he, King Satrājit
tam
that
bibhrat
wearing
maṇim
jewel
kaṇṭhe
on his neck
bhrājamāno yathā raviḥ
bhrājamānaḥ
shining brilliantly
yathā
like
raviḥ
the sun
praviṣṭo dvārakāṁ rājan
praviṣṭaḥ
having entered
dvārakām
the city of Dvārakā
rājan
O King (Parīkṣit)
tejasā nopalakṣitaḥ
tejasā
because of the effulgence
na
not
upalakṣitaḥ
recognized .
Important Words
-
bhrājamānaḥ
—
shining brilliantly
Present participle of √bhrāj. The verb of borrowed effulgence — used elsewhere of stars that shine only because the sun lends them light. A precise word for Satrājit's predicament.
-
tejasā
—
by his effulgence
Instrumental of tejas. The same word will be used in the Gītā for Kṛṣṇa's own splendor (BG 10.36, 11.30). Here it is on loan; in Kṛṣṇa it is svarūpa-tejas, intrinsic.
-
na upalakṣitaḥ
—
not recognized
The opening hint of the chapter's central pun: men carrying loaned light are mistaken for the gods themselves; only Kṛṣṇa, who never advertises, will be correctly recognized — and only by one who first fights Him to a standstill (Jāmbavān).
Wearing the jewel on his neck, Satrājit entered Dvārakā. He shone as brightly as the sun itself, O King, and thus he went unrecognized because of the jewel’s effulgence.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Wearing the jewel on his neck, Satrājit entered Dvārakā. He shone as brightly as the sun itself, O King, and thus he went unrecognized because of the jewel's effulgence.
Commentary
The citizens did not recognize that Satrajit was present( na upalaksitah), but mistook him for the sun god.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
Without anyone knowing, he entered Dvārakā. Or, though he entered Dvārakā, no one recognized him.
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
No one could see Satrājit. Past tense is used because the event took place before the conversation of Śukadeva and Parīkṣit. Or the event was being stated with certainty. He addresses the king in astonishment.
Related values & verses
Related values
Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Vinaya (Humility / Modesty)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Titiksha (Forbearance / Endurance)Mardava (Gentleness)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)Hrih (Modesty / Sense of Shame)Dhairya (Composure / Courage)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
Wearing the jewel, Satrājit enters Dvārakā shining as brightly as the sun and goes unrecognized due to the jewel's effulgence. Material brilliance can hide rather than reveal identity; what shines isn't always who you are.
Reflection Questions
- Where does material brilliance you've acquired hide who you actually are?
- How could you let identity show through ornament?
Analogy
The borrowed brilliance of a jewel can make a man look like a god from a distance — but step close, and the lender's light only reveals how little of it belongs to him. Satrājit shines with Sūrya's effulgence, not his own.
My note
Source: vedabase.io