Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.72.10
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
loka-pāla
—
ruling demigods of the planets
Compound. Dharma, Vāyu, Indra, Aśvins are the lokapālas presiding over the directions; the Pāṇḍavas are their aṁśas walking the earth.
-
aṁśa-sambhavāḥ
—
born as partial expansions
Compound plural. Aṁśa here is technical: not the full divinity but its partial descent. Cf. Gītā 15.7 mamaivāṁśo — even jīvas are aṁśas, but here Kṛṣṇa means the deva-aṁśa-avatāra mode.
-
ātma-vatā
—
by the self-controlled one
Instrumental. The truly self-mastered devotee conquers even the Lord — this is the secret of bhakti's reverse-power. Kṛṣṇa concedes jitaḥ asmi: 'I am conquered'.
-
durjayaḥ
—
unconquerable
Adjective. The Lord is durjaya for the akṛta-ātmā — those who have not mastered themselves. For Yudhiṣṭhira, He is the opposite. Gauḍīya read: bhakti makes the durjaya sujaya.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in Kṛṣṇa, “It is said that Bhīma was born of the demigod Vāyu and that Arjuna was born of the demigod Indra, whereas King Yudhiṣṭhira himself was born of the demigod Yamarāja.” Śrīla Prabhupāda goes on to state, “Lord Kṛṣṇa told King Yudhiṣṭhira that He becomes conquered by the love of one who has conquered his senses. One who has not conquered his senses cannot conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the secret of devotional service. To conquer the senses means to engage them constantly in the service of the Lord. The specific qualification of all the Pāṇḍava brothers was that they always engaged their senses in the service of the Lord. One who thus engages his senses becomes purified, and with purified senses one can actually render service to the Lord. The Lord can thus be conquered by the devotee through loving transcendental service.”
Even I have been brought under control by you, who have controlled your senses (atmavata). Another meaning is I have been brought under control by you, for whom I am all in all. I cannot be conquered by those who do not control their senses (akrtatmabhih).
Pointing with his hand, Kṛṣṇa shows the glories of the Pāṇḍavas to encourage them. According to rumor they are said to expansions of the devatās. Actually the devatās are their expansions, since they are intimate associates of the Lord. yūyaṁ nṛ-loke bata bhūri-bhāgā lokaṁ punānā munayo ’bhiyanti yeṣāṁ gṛhān āvasatīti sākṣād gūḍhaṁ paraṁ brahma manuṣya-liṅgam Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, all of you [the Pāṇḍavas] are extremely fortunate, for the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, lives in your palace just like a human being. Great saintly persons know this very well, and therefore they constantly visit this house. SB 7.10.48 He addresses the king, indicating he is better than the others. He encourages him particularly. Even I am dependent on you. He indicates that the king is the best among all. I have been conquered by you. I am eternally under your control, since you have made me dedicated solely to you (ātmavatā). Others do not have control of me. I am not conquered by those who have not offered their hearts to me (akṛtātmabhiḥ).
- What self-control of mine could begin to 'win' the Lord?
- Where do I underestimate the power of inner discipline to attract divine attention?
Five clay pots can be filled from the same well only because the well is generous. Kṛṣṇa names the brothers as aṁśas of the lokapālas — partial expansions of the rulers of the directions. Yet He notes the deeper miracle: even He, who fills all wells, has been conquered by Yudhiṣṭhira's self-control.
Mahābhārata records: Yudhiṣṭhira from Dharma, Bhīma from Vāyu, Arjuna from Indra, the twins from the Aśvins. The five brothers are not merely human heroes — they are partial descents of the world-rulers themselves. This is why no earthly king will withstand them in the dig-vijaya to come.
Kṛṣṇa Himself says ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno — 'I am dependent on My devotee'. Yudhiṣṭhira's ātma-vattā — self-mastery surrendered to Kṛṣṇa — turns the unconquerable Lord into one who is conquered, lovingly. The same point appears in 10.9, where ropes that could not bind Kṛṣṇa bound Him because Yaśodā loved Him as a son.
My note
Source: vedabase.io