FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.10.13

औत्तानपादि: स तदा शस्त्रवर्षेण भूरिणा । न एवाद‍ृश्यताच्छन्न आसारेण यथा गिरि: ॥ १३ ॥
auttānapādiḥ sa tadā
[auttaanapaadih sa tadaa]
śastra-varṣeṇa bhūriṇā
[shastra-varshena bhoorinaa]
na evādṛśyatācchanna
[na evaadrishyataachchanna]
āsāreṇa yathā giriḥ
[aasaarena yathaa girih]
Word-for-word
auttānapādiḥ — Dhruva Mahārāja saḥ — he tadā — at that time śastra-varṣeṇa — by a shower of weapons bhūriṇā — incessant na — not eva — certainly adṛśyata — was visible ācchannaḥ — being covered āsāreṇa — by constant rainfall yathā — as giriḥ — a mountain.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
auttānapādiḥ sa tadā
auttānapādiḥ
Dhruva Mahārāja
saḥ
he
tadā
at that time
śastra-varṣeṇa bhūriṇā
śastra-varṣeṇa
by a shower of weapons
bhūriṇā
incessant
na evādṛśyatācchanna
na
not
eva
certainly
adṛśyata
was visible
ācchannaḥ
being covered
āsāreṇa yathā giriḥ
āsāreṇa
by constant rainfall
yathā
as
giriḥ
a mountain.
Dhruva Mahārāja was completely covered by an incessant shower of weapons, just as a mountain is covered by incessant rainfall.
Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura points out in this connection that although Dhruva Mahārāja was covered by the incessant arrows of the enemy, this does not mean that he succumbed in the battle. The example of a mountain peak’s being covered by incessant rain is just suitable, for when a mountain is covered by incessant rain, all dirty things are washed from the body of the mountain. Similarly, the incessant shower of arrows from the enemy gave Dhruva Mahārāja new vigor to defeat them. In other words, whatever incompetency he might have had was washed away.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Like a mountain covered by torrents of rain, Dhruva could not be seen, since he was covered by a shower of weapons at that time. He could not be seen, like a mountain covered by heavy showers of rain (āsāreṇa).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Dhruva is completely covered by the shower of weapons, like a mountain in heavy rainfall — but a mountain isn't toppled by rain. Being covered isn't being defeated; weight is sometimes mistaken for collapse.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I confusing temporary covering with actual destruction?
  • What part of me needs to remember that rain on a mountain is just rain?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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