FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.1.39

यमावुतस्वित्तनयौ पृथाया: पार्थैर्वृतौ पक्ष्मभिरक्षिणीव । रेमात उद्दाय मृधे स्वरिक्थं परात्सुपर्णाविव वज्रिवक्त्रात् ॥ ३९ ॥
yamāv utasvit tanayau pṛthāyāḥ
[yamaav utasvit tanayau prithaayaah]
pārthair vṛtau pakṣmabhir akṣiṇīva
[paarthair vritau pakshmabhir akshineeva]
remāta uddāya mṛdhe sva-rikthaṁ
[remaata uddaaya mridhe sva-riktham]
parāt suparṇāv iva vajri-vaktrāt
[paraat suparnaav iva vajri-vaktraat]
Word-for-word
yamau — twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) utasvit — whether tanayau — sons pṛthāyāḥ — of Pṛthā pārthaiḥ — by the sons of Pṛthā vṛtau — protected pakṣmabhiḥ — by the shields akṣiṇī — of the eyes iva — like remāte — playing carelessly uddāya — snatching mṛdhe — in the fight sva-riktham — own property parāt — from the enemy Duryodhana suparṇau — Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu iva — like vajri-vaktrāt — from the mouth of Indra.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yamāv utasvit tanayau pṛthāyāḥ
yamau
twins (Nakula and Sahadeva)
utasvit
whether
tanayau
sons
pṛthāyāḥ
of Pṛthā
pārthair vṛtau pakṣmabhir akṣiṇīva
pārthaiḥ
by the sons of Pṛthā
vṛtau
protected
pakṣmabhiḥ
by the shields
akṣiṇī
of the eyes
iva
like
remāta uddāya mṛdhe sva-rikthaṁ
remāte
playing carelessly
uddāya
snatching
mṛdhe
in the fight
sva-riktham
own property
parāt suparṇāv iva vajri-vaktrāt
parāt
from the enemy Duryodhana
suparṇau
Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu
iva
like
vajri-vaktrāt
from the mouth of Indra.
Are the twin brothers who are protected by their brothers doing well? Just as the eye is always protected by the eyelid, they are protected by the sons of Pṛthā, who snatched back their rightful kingdom from the hands of their enemy Duryodhana, just as Garuḍa snatched nectar from the mouth of Indra, the thunderbolt carrier.
Purport

Indra, the King of heaven, carries a thunderbolt in his hand and is very strong, yet Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, was able to snatch nectar from his mouth. Similarly, Duryodhana was as strong as the King of heaven, and still the sons of Pṛthā, the Pāṇḍavas, were able to snatch away their kingdom from Duryodhana. Both Garuḍa and the Pārthas are pet devotees of the Lord, and thus it was possible for them to face such strong enemies.

Vidura’s inquiry was about the youngest brothers of the Pāṇḍavas, namely Nakula and Sahadeva. These twin brothers were sons of Mādrī, the stepmother of the other Pāṇḍavas. But although they were stepbrothers, because Kuntī took charge of them after the departure of Mādrī with her husband Mahārāja Pāṇḍu, Nakula and Sahadeva were as good as the other three Pāṇḍavas, namely Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna. The five brothers are known in the world as regular brothers. The three elder Pāṇḍavas took care of the younger brothers, just as the eyelid takes care of the eye. Vidura was anxious to know whether, after winning back their own kingdom from the hands of Duryodhana, the younger brothers were still living happily under the care of the elder brothers.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Are the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, sons of Kuntī, protected by the Pāṇḍavas like eyelashes protect the two eyes, enjoying, after they snatched the kingdom from Duryodhana in battle, just as two Garuḍas snatch nectar from the mouth of Indra? Though Nakula and Sahadeva were the sons of Mādrī, they were also considered the sons of Kuntī, for just as the two eyes are surrounded by eyelashes, they were surrounded by the sons of Kuntī. They were protected like jewels. Snatching away (uddāya) the kingdom (sva-rktham) from the enemy (parāt), Duryodhana, like two Garuḍas snatching the nectar from the mouth of Indra (vajri-vaktrāt), are they now enjoying? Or another meaning is as follows. After the Pāṇḍavas snatched away the kingdom from the enemy, do the twins enjoy like birds who, after having stolen nectar from Indra’s mouth, are protected by the Pāṇḍavas? Comparing the twins to Garuḍas is an example of adbhūta upameya (astonishing comparison).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Older brothers protect younger ones the way eyelids guard eyes. Spiritual elders bear the brunt of the world so that newer devotees can grow safely. If you are senior, shelter; if junior, do not waste the shelter you are given.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose 'eyelid' role are you playing for someone younger in your spiritual family?
  • Whose shelter are you receiving, and are you treating that protection with reverence or entitlement?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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