FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.8

तां परं समनुध्यायन्नन्तरं प्रेप्सुरर्जुन: । न लेभे शं भ्रमच्चित्त: कामेनातिबलीयसा ॥ ८ ॥
tāṁ paraṁ samanudhyāyann
[taam param samanudhyaayann]
antaraṁ prepsur arjunaḥ
[antaram prepsur arjunah]
na lebhe śaṁ bhramac-cittaḥ
[na lebhe sham bhramach-chittah]
kāmenāti-balīyasā
[kaamenaati-baleeyasaa]
tām — on her param — only samanudhyāyan — meditating antaram — the right opportunity prepsuḥ — waiting to obtain arjunaḥ — Arjuna na lebhe — could not experience śam — peace bhramat — wavering cittaḥ — his heart kāmena — due to lust ati - balīyasā — most strong .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tāṁ paraṁ samanudhyāyann
tām
on her
param
only
samanudhyāyan
meditating
antaram
the right opportunity
antaraṁ prepsur arjunaḥ
prepsuḥ
waiting to obtain
arjunaḥ
Arjuna
na lebhe śaṁ bhramac-cittaḥ
na lebhe
could not experience
śam
peace
bhramat
wavering
cittaḥ
his heart
kāmenāti-balīyasā
kāmena
due to lust
ati - balīyasā
most strong .
  • samanudhyāyan — meditating
    Sam + anu + √dhyai. Continuous meditation. The same verb used for yogic meditation on Bhagavān is here turned toward Subhadrā — but Gauḍīyas read this with humor, not condemnation: Arjuna's dhyāna on Kṛṣṇa's sister is, structurally, dhyāna inside Kṛṣṇa's family.
  • antaram — the right opportunity
    From antar (interval, gap). The gap-in-time that the kidnap will need. Bhagavān arranges antaras for His devotees — the right gap in the right festival, sanctioned by parents and by Kṛṣṇa, so even an abduction becomes lawful līlā.
  • kāmena — due to lust
    Instrumental of kāma. The Bhāgavatam does not pretend Arjuna is desireless — Gauḍīyas read this honesty as proof that bhakti does not require pretending. The kāma is named, and in v. 9 Kṛṣṇa sanctions its lawful fulfillment.
  • ati-balīyasā — most strong
    Comparative of balin (strong) intensified by ati. Kāma is named bala — a force. Gauḍīyas note that only one bala is greater: kṛṣṇa-prema, which is the only true conqueror of kāma (CC Madhya 19.176).
Meditating only on her and waiting for the opportunity to take her away, Arjuna had no peace. His heart trembled with passionate desire.

Even while being honored by Lord Balarāma, Arjuna was too distracted to appreciate the Lord’s gracious hospitality. Arjuna’s distraction and Lord Balarāma’s failure to recognize Arjuna in his disguise were both arrangements of the Supreme Lord to enjoy His transcendental pastimes.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Meditating only on her and waiting for the opportunity to take her away, Arjuna had no peace. His heart trembled with passionate desire.
Commentary

Desiring an opportunity to take her away (antaram), he had no peace (sam).

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

He waited for an opportunity. Though worshipped by Balarāma and the citizens, he obtained no happiness (śam) from that. Or, he could not be peaceful, since his heart was trembling.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Though he had pure actions (arjunaḥ) he constantly thought of her alone (param), giving up all other thoughts. “When can I attain her?” Or he thought of her beauty. He waited for an excellent (param) opportunity. He did not have peace because his heart was bewildered.

Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomShanti (Peace / Tranquility)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
Arjuna has no peace, his heart trembles. Holy desire is not always serene; sometimes its truth shows in restlessness. Sleeplessness can be a form of prayer.
Reflection Questions
  • What restlessness in me right now might be a holy ask?
  • Where do I medicate spiritual unease when I should let it teach me?

Arjuna cannot sleep — the same Arjuna who, on Kurukṣetra's edge, sat down in the chariot and asked Kṛṣṇa to drive. The hero of the Gītā is here as restless as any householder in love. Kṛṣṇa's friends are not statues; they are persons whose hearts shake.

📝 My note

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