FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.72.42

तद् विज्ञाय महासत्त्वो भीम: प्रहरतां वर: । गृहीत्वा पादयो: शत्रुं पातयामास भूतले ॥ ४२ ॥
tad vijñāya mahā-sattvo
[tad vijnaaya mahaa-sattvo]
bhīmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ
[bheemah praharataam varah]
gṛhītvā pādayoḥ śatruṁ
[griheetvaa paadayoh shatrum]
pātayām āsa bhū-tale
[paatayaam aasa bhoo-tale]
Word-for-word
tat — that vijñāya — understanding mahā — great sattvaḥ — whose strength bhīmaḥ — Bhīma praharatām — of fighters varaḥ — the best gṛhītvā — seizing pādayoḥ — by the feet śatrum — his enemy pātayām asa — he made him fall bhū - tale — to the ground .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tad vijñāya mahā-sattvo
tat
that
vijñāya
understanding
mahā
great
sattvaḥ
whose strength
bhīmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ
bhīmaḥ
Bhīma
praharatām
of fighters
varaḥ
the best
gṛhītvā pādayoḥ śatruṁ
gṛhītvā
seizing
pādayoḥ
by the feet
śatrum
his enemy
pātayām āsa bhū-tale
pātayām asa
he made him fall
bhū - tale
to the ground .
Important Words
  • vijñāya — understanding
    Gerund. Bhīma does not ask; he understands. The Gauḍīya principle of guru-vākye viśvāsa — full trust in the instruction — is enacted here in real time.
  • mahā-sattvaḥ — of great strength
    Compound nominative. Sattva here means strength, vitality. Bhīma's title in this verse, fitting the moment he is about to use that strength to its limit.
  • praharatām-varaḥ — the best of fighters
    Genitive plural + nominative. Among all fighters, Bhīma is varaḥ — chosen, best. The epithet seals his role in this duel.
  • pādayoḥ — by the feet
    Genitive dual. The unconventional grip. Cf. the twig in 41 — feet then tear, twig then tears. The pattern of the cue is the pattern of the kill.
Understanding this sign, mighty Bhīma, the best of fighters, seized his opponent by the feet and threw him to the ground.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Understanding this sign, mighty Bhīma, the best of fighters, seized his opponent by the feet and threw him to the ground.
Commentary

The citizens saw the two parts each with one leg etc.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Because he was strong (mahā-sattvaḥ) and skilful at fighting (paraharatāṁ varaḥ), he threw Jarāsandha on the ground.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Understanding what was shown to him, because he had great intelligence (mahā-sattvaḥ), Bhīma, the best in strength and courage (pararatām varaḥ), threw Jarāsandha down on the ground. Or because he was very strong (mahāsattvaḥ) and was expert in fighting (praharatām varaḥ) he threw him on the ground.

Related values & verses
Related values
Mardava (Gentleness)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)Sthitaprajna (Steady Wisdom)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)Kartavya (Duty / Responsibility)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Titiksha (Forbearance / Endurance)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Satya (Truthfulness)Shaucha (Cleanliness / Purity)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Achapalya (Steadiness / Non-fickleness)Dhriti (Resilience / Steadfastness / Fortitude)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)
Related verses
BG 2.66 BG 2.15 BG 2.14
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
Reading the sign, Bhīma seized Jarāsandha by the feet and threw him to the ground. Right understanding turns instantly into right action; comprehension that does not move is incomplete.
Reflection Questions
  • What understanding of mine has not yet turned into action?
  • Where does the next step require trusting the sign and moving?
Analogy

A wrestler's whole training tells him to seek shoulders, hips, the centre of gravity. Bhīma reverses it — he seizes the feet. The unusual hold reads as wrong to every textbook; only the Lord's signal makes it correct. Bhīma trusts the signal more than the training.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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