FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.79.27

तस्मादेकतरस्येह युवयो: समवीर्ययो: । न लक्ष्यते जयोऽन्यो वा विरमत्वफलो रण: ॥ २७ ॥
tasmād ekatarasyeha
[tasmaad ekatarasyeha]
yuvayoḥ sama-vīryayoḥ
[yuvayoh sama-veeryayoh]
na lakṣyate jayo ’nyo vā
[na lakshyate jayo ’nyo vaa]
viramatv aphalo raṇaḥ
[viramatv aphalo ranah]
Word-for-word
tasmāt — therefore ekatarasya — of either of the two iha — here yuvayoḥ — of you sama — equal vīryayoḥ — whose prowess na lakṣyate — cannot be seen jayaḥ — victory anyaḥ — the opposite (defeat) vā — or viramatu — it should stop aphalaḥ — fruitless raṇaḥ — the battle .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmād ekatarasyeha
tasmāt
therefore
ekatarasya
of either of the two
iha
here
yuvayoḥ sama-vīryayoḥ
yuvayoḥ
of you
sama
equal
vīryayoḥ
whose prowess
na lakṣyate jayo ’nyo vā
na lakṣyate
cannot be seen
jayaḥ
victory
viramatv aphalo raṇaḥ
anyaḥ
the opposite (defeat)
vā
or
viramatu
it should stop
aphalaḥ
fruitless
raṇaḥ
the battle .
Important Words
  • viramatu — let it stop
    Imperative third singular of vi + √ram, 'to cease.' The exact verb a guru uses to end a śāstra-bout. Balarāma is not pleading; He is issuing the technical command that closes a duel between equals. The grammar is authoritative.
  • aphalaḥ raṇaḥ — fruitless battle
    Phrase: a (not) + phala (fruit) + raṇa (battle). The classical śāstra-criterion for stopping a contest: no possible fruit. Balarāma names the duel by its śāstric verdict, exactly as Kṛṣṇa names Arjuna's grief in BG 2.2 as anārya-juṣṭam — diagnosing the act in technical terms.
  • sama-vīryayoḥ — of those whose prowess is equal
    Compound dual genitive: sama (equal) + vīrya (prowess). The Lord's diagnostic of the duel — vīrya here means kṣātra-vīrya, martial prowess. Where vīrya is sama, the duel cannot resolve.
  • na lakṣyate — is not observed
    Phrase: na (not) + lakṣyate (passive of √lakṣ, 'to perceive, to mark'). Balarāma's vision sees no jaya — He looks into the future of the duel and finds neither outcome. The verb cannot mark a winner.
Since you are so evenly matched in fighting prowess, I do not see how either of you can win or lose this duel. Therefore please stop this useless battle.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Since you are so evenly matched in fighting prowess, I do not see how either of you can win or lose this duel. Therefore please stop this useless battle.
Commentary

Because you are equal in strength, there will be neither victory or defeat (anya) for either of you.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Since you are equal in ability to fight, I do not see victory in this arena for one of you. Therefore the fight is useless. You should give it up without victory.

Related values & verses
Related values
Bhakti (Devotion)Prema (Divine Love)
Concepts
RasaJiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
'You are evenly matched; I see no way for either of you to win. Therefore, stop this useless battle.' Sometimes the wise read says: there is no win here, so put down the weapons.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'useless battle' am I in that has no possible winner?
  • What would it cost to be the first to stop?
Analogy

When the two pans of the scale are equal, no weighing happens — Balarāma's logic is the cleanest gadā-śāstra a guru can offer. A duel of evenly matched warriors is by definition phala-rahita, fruitless: neither will win, neither will lose, blood is spent for nothing. Stop, He says. The argument is irrefutable. The next verse will record that irrefutable arguments are not what closes a vendetta.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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