FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.16.23

विस्फूर्जयन्नाजगवं धनु: स्वयंयदाचरत्क्ष्मामविषह्यमाजौ तदा निलिल्युर्दिशि दिश्यसन्तोलाङ्गूलमुद्यम्य यथा मृगेन्द्र: ॥ २३ ॥
visphūrjayann āja-gavaṁ dhanuḥ svayaṁ
[visphoorjayann aaja-gavam dhanuh svayam]
yadācarat kṣmām aviṣahyam ājau
[yadaacharat kshmaam avishahyam aajau]
tadā nililyur diśi diśy asanto
[tadaa nililyur dishi dishy asanto]
lāṅgūlam udyamya yathā mṛgendraḥ
[laangoolam udyamya yathaa mrigendrah]
Word-for-word
visphūrjayan — vibrating āja-gavam — made of the horns of goats and bulls dhanuḥ — his bow svayam — personally yadā — when acarat — will travel kṣmām — on the earth aviṣahyam — irresistible ājau — in battle tadā — at that time nililyuḥ — will hide themselves diśi diśi — in all directions asantaḥ — demoniac men lāṅgūlam — tail udyamya — keeping high yathā — as mṛgendraḥ — the lion.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
visphūrjayann āja-gavaṁ dhanuḥ svayaṁ
visphūrjayan
vibrating
āja-gavam
made of the horns of goats and bulls
dhanuḥ
his bow
svayam
personally
yadācarat kṣmām aviṣahyam ājau
yadā
when
acarat
will travel
kṣmām
on the earth
aviṣahyam
irresistible
ājau
in battle
tadā nililyur diśi diśy asanto
tadā
at that time
nililyuḥ
will hide themselves
diśi diśi
in all directions
asantaḥ
demoniac men
lāṅgūlam udyamya yathā mṛgendraḥ
lāṅgūlam
tail
udyamya
keeping high
yathā
as
mṛgendraḥ
the lion.
When the lion travels in the forest with its tail turned upward, all menial animals hide themselves. Similarly, when King Pṛthu will travel over his kingdom and vibrate the string of his bow, which is made of the horns of goats and bulls and is irresistible in battle, all demoniac rogues and thieves will hide themselves in all directions.
Purport

It is very appropriate to compare a powerful king like Pṛthu to a lion. In India, kṣatriya kings are still called siṅgh, which means “lion.” Unless rogues, thieves and other demoniac people in a state are afraid of the executive head, who rules the kingdom with a strong hand, there cannot be peace or prosperity in the state. Thus it is most regrettable when a woman becomes the executive head instead of a lionlike king. In such a situation the people are considered very unfortunate.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When he traveled the earth during battle, twanging his irresistible bow made of cow and goat horn, like a lion with raised tail, the sinful fled away in all directions. Just as a lion walking about with raised tail, Pṛthu wandered the earth twanging his bow.
Personal Guidance
When the lion roams with tail up, lesser animals hide; when Pṛthu vibrates his bow, demons flee. Some presences alone are sufficient; you don't always have to act, you just have to be visibly present.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could my visible presence with 'tail up' alone clear out the demoniac elements?
  • What lion-quality am I underplaying, leaving room for what shouldn't be there?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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