Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.59.21
शूलं भौमोऽच्युतं हन्तुमाददे वितथोद्यम: ।
तद्विसर्गात् पूर्वमेव नरकस्य शिरो हरि: ।
अपाहरद् गजस्थस्य चक्रेण क्षुरनेमिना ॥ २१ ॥
śūlaṁ bhaumo ’cyutaṁ hantum
[shoolam bhaumo ’chyutam hantum]
ādade vitathodyamaḥ
[aadade vitathodyamah]
tad-visargāt pūrvam eva
[tad-visargaat poorvam eva]
narakasya śiro hariḥ
[narakasya shiro harih]
apāharad gaja-sthasya
[apaaharad gaja-sthasya]
cakreṇa kṣura-neminā
[chakrena kshura-neminaa]
Word-for-word
śūlam
—
his trident
bhaumaḥ
—
Bhauma
acyutam
—
Lord Kṛṣṇa
hantum
—
to kill
ādade
—
took up
vitatha
—
frustrated
udyamaḥ
—
whose endeavors
tat
—
its
visargāt
—
release
pūrvam
—
before
eva
—
even
narakasya
—
of Bhauma
śiraḥ
—
the head
hariḥ
—
Lord Kṛṣṇa
apāharat
—
removed
gaja
—
on his elephant
sthasya
—
who was seated
cakreṇa
—
with His disc
kṣura
—
razor-sharp
neminā
—
whose edge .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śūlaṁ bhaumo ’cyutaṁ hantum
śūlam
his trident
bhaumaḥ
Bhauma
acyutam
Lord Kṛṣṇa
hantum
to kill
ādade vitathodyamaḥ
ādade
took up
vitatha
frustrated
udyamaḥ
whose endeavors
tad-visargāt pūrvam eva
tat
its
visargāt
release
pūrvam
before
eva
even
narakasya śiro hariḥ
narakasya
of Bhauma
śiraḥ
the head
hariḥ
Lord Kṛṣṇa
apāharad gaja-sthasya
apāharat
removed
gaja
on his elephant
sthasya
who was seated
cakreṇa kṣura-neminā
cakreṇa
with His disc
kṣura
razor-sharp
neminā
whose edge .
Important Words
-
śūlam
—
trident
The same word as in verse 7 (Mura's trident) — the chapter's recurring weapon. By the third time it appears, the reader knows it never lands; the Bhāgavatam teaches by repetition that asura-weapons against Bhagavān are decorative.
-
vitatha - udyamaḥ
—
whose endeavors were frustrated
Compound: vitatha (false, in vain) + udyama (effort). Vitatha is a precise Sanskrit term — 'made false', shown to be groundless. All of Bhauma's vikrama is finally a vitatha.
-
cakreṇa
—
with His disc
Instrumental of cakra — the Sudarśana, 'auspicious vision'. Reserved for the killing blow against Bhauma, as against Mura. The disc moves at the speed of the Lord's intention.
-
kṣura - neminā
—
whose edge is razor-sharp
Compound: kṣura (razor) + nemi (rim, edge). The Sudarśana's circumference is its blade — a precise descriptive detail Gauḍīya kathākāras savor when describing the Lord's weapons.
Bhauma, frustrated in all his attempts, took up his trident to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa. But even before he could release it, the Lord cut off his head with His razor-sharp cakra as the demon sat atop his elephant.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, as Bhauma raised his invincible trident, Satyabhāmā, sitting on Garuḍa with the Lord, said to Kṛṣṇa, “Kill him right away,” and Kṛṣṇa did just that.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Bhauma, frustrated in all his attempts, took up his trident to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa. But even before he could release it, the Lord cut off his head with His razor-sharp cakra as the demon sat atop his elephant.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
He cut off his head even before Bhauma could release his spear. He took off the head as if Bhauma was unaware (apa—aharat) because he used the cakra with sharp blades on its spokes.
Related values & verses
Related values
Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Dhairya (Composure / Courage)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to God)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Dhriti (Resilience / Steadfastness / Fortitude)Apaishunam (Non-slander)Pratijna (Vow-keeping / Sacred Resolve)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Bhauma, frustrated, takes up his trident to kill Kṛṣṇa; even before he can release it, the Lord cuts off his head with His razor-sharp cakra. Endings come before the next strike completes; the Lord doesn't always wait His turn.
Reflection Questions
- Where might the Lord pre-empt an attack you've been bracing for?
- How does this image change your sense of His timing?
Analogy
Before the executioner can even raise the axe, the king's word has already removed the head. Bhauma reaches for the trident; the cakra has already arrived. Gauḍīyas note that Bhagavān's response is faster than the asura's intention — grace is always pre-existent.
My note
Source: vedabase.io