Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.19.14
तं तादृशाकृतिं वीक्ष्य मेने धर्मं शरीरिणम् ।
जटिलं भस्मनाच्छन्नं तस्मै बाणं न मुञ्चति ॥ १४ ॥
taṁ tādṛśākṛtiṁ vīkṣya
[tam taadrishaakritim veekshya]
mene dharmaṁ śarīriṇam
[mene dharmam shareerinam]
jaṭilaṁ bhasmanācchannaṁ
[jatilam bhasmanaachchannam]
tasmai bāṇaṁ na muñcati
[tasmai baanam na munchati]
Word-for-word
tam
—
him
tādṛśa-ākṛtim
—
in such dress
vīkṣya
—
after seeing
mene
—
considered
dharmam
—
pious or religious
śarīriṇam
—
having a body
jaṭilam
—
having knotted hair
bhasmanā
—
by ashes
ācchannam
—
smeared all over the body
tasmai
—
unto him
bāṇam
—
arrow
na
—
not
muñcati
—
he did release.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
taṁ tādṛśākṛtiṁ vīkṣya
tam
him
tādṛśa-ākṛtim
in such dress
vīkṣya
after seeing
mene dharmaṁ śarīriṇam
mene
considered
dharmam
pious or religious
śarīriṇam
having a body
jaṭilaṁ bhasmanācchannaṁ
jaṭilam
having knotted hair
bhasmanā
by ashes
ācchannam
smeared all over the body
tasmai bāṇaṁ na muñcati
tasmai
unto him
bāṇam
arrow
na
not
muñcati
he did release.
King Indra was fraudulently dressed as a sannyāsī, having knotted his hair on his head and smeared ashes all over his body. Upon seeing such dress, the son of King Pṛthu considered Indra a religious man and pious sannyāsī. Therefore he did not release his arrows.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Seeing him in that dress, with matted locks and smeared in ashes, Pṛthu’s son thought he must be a religious person. He did not shoot him.
He thought, “The person with this dress must being following dharma somewhat, from seeing Śiva or others.”
Personal Guidance
Seeing Indra knotted-hair, ash-smeared, the son thought him a religious sannyāsī and didn't fire. The disguise works at first; respect for spiritual symbols becomes the cover for theft.
Reflection Questions
- Where has my respect for spiritual symbols been weaponized against me?
- How do I learn to distinguish real renunciation from costumes that exploit my reverence?
My note
Source: vedabase.io