FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.57.21

पदातेर्भगवांस्तस्य पदातिस्तिग्मनेमिना । चक्रेण शिर उत्कृत्य वाससोर्व्यचिनोन्मणिम् ॥ २१ ॥
padāter bhagavāṁs tasya
[padaater bhagavaams tasya]
padātis tigma-neminā
[padaatis tigma-neminaa]
cakreṇa śira utkṛtya
[chakrena shira utkritya]
vāsasor vyacinon maṇim
[vaasasor vyachinon manim]
padāteḥ — of him who was on foot bhagavān — the Supreme Lord tasya — his padātiḥ — Himself on foot tigma — sharp neminā — whose edge cakreṇa — with His disc śiraḥ — head utkṛtya — severing vāsasoḥ — within Śatadhanvā’s garments (upper and lower) vyacinot — He searched for maṇim — the jewel .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
padāter bhagavāṁs tasya
padāteḥ
of him who was on foot
bhagavān
the Supreme Lord
tasya
his
padātis tigma-neminā
padātiḥ
Himself on foot
tigma
sharp
neminā
whose edge
cakreṇa śira utkṛtya
cakreṇa
with His disc
śiraḥ
head
utkṛtya
severing
vāsasor vyacinon maṇim
vāsasoḥ
within Śatadhanvā’s garments (upper and lower)
vyacinot
He searched for
maṇim
the jewel .
  • padātiḥ — Himself on foot
    From pad (foot) + ati (going). The Bhāgavata juxtaposes padāteḥ (Śatadhanvā on foot) with padātiḥ (Kṛṣṇa on foot) — Bhagavān meets the fugitive on his own terms. Gauḍīyas treat this echo as a courtesy of Kṛṣṇa's līlā: He even shares the mode of the chase.
  • cakreṇa — with the disc
    Instrumental of cakra — Sudarśana, the Lord's discus. Gauḍīya iconography: the cakra is Bhagavān's own will personified as a weapon. The disc never returns without completing its work.
  • utkṛtya — having cut off
    Gerund of ut-√kṛt. The single act that resolves Śatadhanvā's arc — the head separated from the body. Bhāgavata's narrative doesn't dwell; one verb, one verse, complete.
  • vyacinot — He searched
    Imperfect of vi-√ci. The Lord searches — Bhagavān 'looking for' a gem inside a corpse's garments. Gauḍīyas read this lokavat-anukaraṇa as central: the omniscient One stages a search to honor the human procedure that the situation calls for.
As Śatadhanvā fled on foot, the Supreme Lord, also going on foot, cut off his head with His sharp-edged disc. The Lord then searched Śatadhanvā’s upper and lower garments for the Syamantaka jewel.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As Śatadhanvā fled on foot, the Supreme Lord, also going on foot, cut off his head with His sharp-edged disc. The Lord then searched Śatadhanvā's upper and lower garments for the Syamantaka jewel.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Though he was full of all knowledge (bhagavān), he searched for the jewel, to fool Balarāma, who was watching at a distance. This was because of his absorption in desiring exciting human pastimes filled with prema for his dear devotees. Not bringing Śatadhanvā to Balarāma, without asking him for news of the jewel, he cut off his head with his cakra. He did this to show his great anger at Śatadhanvā. Though Akrūra was his devotee, the Lord had a desire to punish him after some time by creating a stigma, because he had also schemed due to bad association. He hesitated to do this directly however. Because of the Lord’s desire to fulfill the desires of his devotees, and because Akrūra was qualified to possess the jewel, he also desired to give the jewel to him. Therefore Kṛṣṇa’s intention was “Taking the jewel secretly, let Akrūra flee.” This will be considered later. Hearing this news, those other than my brother will feel sorrow. After that everything will be solved.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Though he was full of all knowledge (bhagavān), he searched for the jewel. He cut off his head, throwing it far away. He wanted to show that he heard from the mouth of Śatadhanvā about the jewel, to fool Balarāma, or he did this out of anger.

Related values
Bhakti (Devotion)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
On foot, the Lord cuts off the fleeing man's head with His sharp disc and searches his garments for the jewel. The act of justice is completed; the search for the asset begins immediately after.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you treat justice and recovery as separate when they belong adjacent?
  • What asset-recovery follows a needed conclusion in your life?

Kṛṣṇa runs on foot to meet the foot-running fugitive — equality of mode, asymmetry of outcome. The disc parts the head from the shoulders; the search of the garments finds no jewel. The verse ends in an absence that drives the rest of the chapter.

📝 My note

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