Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.83.34
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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grāma - siṁhā
—
lions of the village (i.e., dogs)
Grāma (village) + siṁha (lion). A sarcastic Sanskrit kenning — a dog is the 'village-lion'. The chapter has built the lion-image three times for Kṛṣṇa; here it is inverted for His attackers. The same word, opposite weight.
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harim
—
the lion (also: the Lord, Hari)
Hari can mean both 'lion' and 'the Lord'. The dual meaning is deliberate. Grammatically: the village-dogs chase the lion; theologically: the kings chase Hari Himself. The text refuses to separate the two readings.
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anvasajjanta
—
they pursued, attached themselves behind
Anu (after) + √sañj (to cling). The verb means both 'follow' and 'cling attachedly'. Their pursuit is described in the language of attachment — they cannot let go even after they have lost.
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niṣeddhum
—
to check, to obstruct
Infinitive of ni + √sidh — to stop. The kings tried to obstruct the Lord's chariot. Gauḍīya commentators: this is the asura-volition in concentrated form — to obstruct the Lord's movement, to put oneself between Him and His bhakta.
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uddhṛta - iṣu - āsāḥ
—
whose bows had arrows raised (drawn)
Uddhṛta (raised) + iṣu (arrow) + āsa (bow). Compound describing the suitors' position: bows already drawn before they were within range. The eagerness of failed kāma.
The kings followed behind to stop him, like dogs following a lion. Some lifted their bows (uddhrta isu asah), like dogs lifting up their tails (asa).
The kings with raised bows were like dogs with raised tails. Another meaning is as follows. Because of the chariot’s speed, some of the kings could not even raise their bows and remained far behind. Some foolish kings on swift chariots chased him to stop him on the path. They were eager for battle and thus raised their bows.
- Where am I 'village-dog chasing' something far beyond my reach?
- What would noticing this image cost me — and free me from?
The kings rouse themselves at last and chase like village dogs barking at a lion — some flank the road ahead with raised bows, others trail behind. The image is unforgiving: grāma-siṁha, 'lion of the village,' is the Sanskrit kenning for a dog. Dogs imagine themselves lions when the real lion is not in view; when He appears, the imagination collapses.
My note
Source: vedabase.io