Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.58.13-14
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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vānara
—
the monkey (Hanumān)
Hanumān, the supreme servant of Rāmacandra. The Mahābhārata makes him the personal banner of Arjuna — Gauḍīyas read this cross-yuga gesture as proof that all bhakti is one family: the Treta-yuga's dāsa shields the Dvāpara-yuga's sakhā.
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gāṇḍīvam
—
his bow Gāṇḍīva
Arjuna's celestial bow, originally Brahmā's. The same instrument that will, in the Gītā context, slip from his hands when sakhya is tested. Here it is still in its joyful function — hunting beside Kṛṣṇa, not facing Bhīṣma.
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akṣaya
—
inexhaustible
From a (not) + kṣaya (decay). In the compound akṣaya-sāyakau — inexhaustible quivers, gifts of Agni (see verse 26). Anything held in connection with Kṛṣṇa becomes akṣaya; depletion is a feature of māyā, not of His company.
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vihartum
—
to sport
Infinitive of vi + √hṛ — to play. The verb of līlā. Even an armed forest expedition is, when Kṛṣṇa is the companion, vihāra — sport. Gauḍīya: with Bhagavān, the line between duty and play dissolves.
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sākam
—
together with
Adverbial — joined. Arjuna goes hunting sākam kṛṣṇena. The whole bhāva of the episode is in this small word: the action is incidental; the togetherness is the point.
This incident must have taken place after the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest, since Arjuna was now using the Gāṇḍīva bow and other weapons he had acquired during that incident.
This event happens after the burning of the Khandava forest, because in this incident Arjuna carried his Gandiva bow.
This event took place after the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest since Arjuna now had Gāṇḍīva bow, which he obtained from that incident. They entered the forest to sport in joy. His name indicates that he conquered all completely (vijayaḥ). He was victorious even over chariots. This is indicated by his flag of Hanumān. He held his bow which was made the earth roar (gānḍīva). He wore armor (sannaddhaḥ). He entered the forest which was huge or thick. He went with Kṛṣṇa, who attracted the heart by his friendship. Mounting one chariot, the two entered the forest. He had no fear or showed his power to kill other great warriors (para-vīra-hā). Thus he was a conqueror (vijayaḥ).
- Where could you be more equipped for the 'play' you undertake?
- How does taking play seriously honor it?
Two friends entering a deep forest are not chasing prey so much as the unhurried hours together — the hunt is the frame, the friendship is the picture. Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa setting out in armed splendour is sakhya-rasa staged as kṣatriya-līlā.
The vānara-dhvaja that flies above Arjuna's chariot is Hanumān himself, present in the symbol. Mahābhārata (Vana-parva) records that Hanumān met Bhīma in the forest and promised to perch on Arjuna's banner during the war — and during this hunt too, the great servant of Rāma watches over the great friend of Kṛṣṇa.
Gauḍīya reading: dāsya-rasa shelters sakhya-rasa. Hanumān's chosen rasa flies above Arjuna's because servanthood is the foundation under every higher relation.
My note
Source: vedabase.io