Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.11.3
तस्यार्षास्त्रं धनुषि प्रयुञ्जत:
सुवर्णपुङ्खा: कलहंसवासस: ।
विनि:सृता आविविशुर्द्विषद्बलं
यथा वनं भीमरवा: शिखण्डिन: ॥ ३ ॥
tasyārṣāstraṁ dhanuṣi prayuñjataḥ
[tasyaarshaastram dhanushi prayunjatah]
suvarṇa-puṅkhāḥ kalahaṁsa-vāsasaḥ
[suvarna-punkhaah kalahamsa-vaasasah]
viniḥsṛtā āviviśur dviṣad-balaṁ
[vinihsritaa aavivishur dvishad-balam]
yathā vanaṁ bhīma-ravāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
[yathaa vanam bheema-ravaah shikhandinah]
Word-for-word
tasya
—
while Dhruva
ārṣa-astram
—
the weapon given by Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi
dhanuṣi
—
on his bow
prayuñjataḥ
—
fixed
suvarṇa-puṅkhāḥ
—
(arrows) with golden shafts
kalahaṁsa-vāsasaḥ
—
with feathers like the wings of a swan
viniḥsṛtāḥ
—
sprang out
āviviśuḥ
—
entered
dviṣat-balam
—
the soldiers of the enemy
yathā
—
just as
vanam
—
into a forest
bhīma-ravāḥ
—
making a tumultuous sound
śikhaṇḍinaḥ
—
peacocks.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyārṣāstraṁ dhanuṣi prayuñjataḥ
tasya
while Dhruva
ārṣa-astram
the weapon given by Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi
dhanuṣi
on his bow
prayuñjataḥ
fixed
suvarṇa-puṅkhāḥ kalahaṁsa-vāsasaḥ
suvarṇa-puṅkhāḥ
(arrows) with golden shafts
kalahaṁsa-vāsasaḥ
with feathers like the wings of a swan
viniḥsṛtā āviviśur dviṣad-balaṁ
viniḥsṛtāḥ
sprang out
āviviśuḥ
entered
dviṣat-balam
the soldiers of the enemy
yathā vanaṁ bhīma-ravāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
yathā
just as
vanam
into a forest
bhīma-ravāḥ
making a tumultuous sound
śikhaṇḍinaḥ
peacocks.
Even as Dhruva Mahārāja fixed the weapon made by Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi onto his bow, arrows with golden shafts and feathers like the wings of a swan flew out from it. They entered the enemy soldiers with a great hissing sound, just as peacocks enter a forest with tumultuous crowing.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
When Dhruva fixed the weapon on his bow, golden arrows with feathers from swans fired out upon the enemy like the frightening sound of peacocks in the forest.
Ārṣāstram means the weapon of the sage (ṛṣi) Nārāyaṇa. The shaft and tip were gold. The feathers were from swans. The word śarāḥ (arrows) should be supplied.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Golden, swan-feathered arrows fly with peacock-like sound into the enemy. Divine power can be both lethal and beautiful; effective action doesn't have to be ugly.
Reflection Questions
- Where do I assume the necessary action must be crude rather than elegant?
- How could grace and effectiveness both characterize my next hard move?
My note
Source: vedabase.io