Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.77.19
श्रीभगवानुवाच
वृथा त्वं कत्थसे मन्द न पश्यस्यन्तिकेऽन्तकम् ।
पौरुषं दर्शयन्ति स्म शूरा न बहुभाषिण: ॥ १९ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
vṛthā tvaṁ katthase manda
[vrithaa tvam katthase manda]
na paśyasy antike ’ntakam
[na pashyasy antike ’ntakam]
paurusaṁ darśayanti sma
[paurusam darshayanti sma]
śūrā na bahu-bhāṣiṇaḥ
[shooraa na bahu-bhaashinah]
Word-for-word
śrī - bhagavān uvāca
—
the Supreme Lord said
vṛthā
—
in vain
tvam
—
you
katthase
—
boast
manda
—
O dull one
na paśyasi
—
you do not see
antike
—
near
antakam
—
death
pauruṣam
—
their prowess
darśayanti
—
demonstrate
sma
—
indeed
śūrāḥ
—
heroes
na
—
not
bahu
—
much
bhāṣiṇaḥ
—
speaking .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī - bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Lord said
vṛthā tvaṁ katthase manda
vṛthā
in vain
tvam
you
katthase
boast
manda
O dull one
na paśyasy antike ’ntakam
na paśyasi
you do not see
antike
near
paurusaṁ darśayanti sma
antakam
death
pauruṣam
their prowess
darśayanti
demonstrate
sma
indeed
śūrā na bahu-bhāṣiṇaḥ
śūrāḥ
heroes
na
not
bahu
much
bhāṣiṇaḥ
speaking .
Important Words
-
katthase
—
you boast
Middle voice of √katth — to brag. Used in Mahābhārata for the empty speech of those about to fall. Bhāgavatam imports the same usage: katthana is the demon's reliable predictor of his own immediate death.
-
antakam
—
death
He who ends — Yama personified. Kṛṣṇa as Antaka stands literally beside Śālva at this moment. Gauḍīyas note that Bhagavān names His own role plainly when speaking to demons; with devotees, the same Lord conceals it under a flute.
-
śūrāḥ
—
heroes
From √śūr — to be brave. The class of warriors who act rather than boast. The verse's pivot — Kṛṣṇa, who is Himself Śauri (descendant of Śūra), defines what a true śūra is, in the very moment of being one.
-
pauruṣam
—
prowess
From puruṣa — manliness, the strength of being. Gauḍīyas hear a deeper register: pauruṣa is what the puruṣottama displays. Real strength is shown by Bhagavān, not by demons who only describe their own.
The Supreme Lord said: O dullard, you boast in vain, since you fail to see death standing near you. Real heroes do not talk much but rather show their prowess in action.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: O dullard, you boast in vain, since you fail to see death standing near you. Real heroes do not talk much but rather show their prowess in action.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
You boast. That is suitable for you since you are a fool (manda). His foolishness is shown. Because of approaching death, you should not boast. You are certainly not a warrior. The warrior shows prowess. This is well known (vai).
Related values & verses
Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Kartavya (Duty / Responsibility)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)
Related verses
BG 2.60
BG 15.20
BG 2.47
BG 14.3
BG 12.1
SB 1.2BG 12.3
BG 4.8
BG 18.54
BG 6.35
BG 7.1
BG 12.5
BG 2.66
BG 9.1
BG 5.4
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
'You dullard, you fail to see death standing near you. Real heroes do not talk much; they act.' Kṛṣṇa's reply is short and sharp; the Lord values action over talk.
Reflection Questions
- Where do I substitute talk for action?
- What single action this week would do more than all my words?
Analogy
"You boast in vain; you cannot see death standing beside you. Real heroes do not talk much; they show their prowess in action." Kṛṣṇa's reply is the entire sūtra of bhakti's stance toward boasting demons — one sentence, total composure, no rhetorical match for the demon's catalog.
My note
Source: vedabase.io