SB 4.10.21 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.10.21

अपश्यमान: स तदाततायिनं महामृधे कञ्चन मानवोत्तम: । पुरीं दिद‍ृक्षन्नपि नाविशद्‌द्विषां न मायिनां वेद चिकीर्षितं जन: ॥ २१ ॥

apaśyamānaḥ sa tadātatāyinaṁ

[apashyamaanah sa tadaatataayinam]

mahā-mṛdhe kañcana mānavottamaḥ

[mahaa-mridhe kanchana maanavottamah]

purīṁ didṛkṣann api nāviśad dviṣāṁ

[pureem didrikshann api naavishad dvishaam]

na māyināṁ veda cikīrṣitaṁ janaḥ

[na maayinaam veda chikeershitam janah]

Word-for-word

apaśyamānaḥ — while not observing saḥ — Dhruva tadā — at that time ātatāyinam — armed opposing soldiers mahā-mṛdhe — in that great battlefield kañcana — any mānava-uttamaḥ — the best of the human beings purīm — the city didṛkṣan — wishing to see api — although na āviśat — did not enter dviṣām — of the enemies na — not māyinām — of the mystics veda — knows cikīrṣitam — the plans janaḥ — anyone.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

apaśyamānaḥ sa tadātatāyinaṁ

apaśyamānaḥ

while not observing

saḥ

Dhruva

tadā

at that time

ātatāyinam

armed opposing soldiers

mahā-mṛdhe kañcana mānavottamaḥ

mahā-mṛdhe

in that great battlefield

kañcana

any

mānava-uttamaḥ

the best of the human beings

purīṁ didṛkṣann api nāviśad dviṣāṁ

purīm

the city

didṛkṣan

wishing to see

api

although

na āviśat

did not enter

dviṣām

of the enemies

na māyināṁ veda cikīrṣitaṁ janaḥ

not

māyinām

of the mystics

veda

knows

cikīrṣitam

the plans

janaḥ

anyone.

Dhruva Mahārāja, the best of human beings, observed that in that great battlefield not one of the opposing soldiers was left standing with proper weapons. He then desired to see the city of Alakāpurī, but he thought to himself, “No one knows the plans of the mystic Yakṣas.”

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Not seeing his attackers with weapons in the vast battlefield at all, the best of Manu’s descendents, though desiring to see the city, did not enter it. One does not know the plan of the deceptive enemy. Ātatāyinam means “persons holding weapons.”

Personal Guidance

Seeing no opposing soldiers, Dhruva wanted to enter the city but suspected mystic Yakṣa tricks. Vigilance after apparent victory is a discipline; many battles are lost in the unguarded moment after winning.

Reflection Questions

Where have I let my guard down after a win, only to be ambushed?
What habit could keep me vigilant precisely when the field looks clear?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io