FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.3

अन्तर्धानगतिं शक्राल्लब्ध्वान्तर्धानसंज्ञित: । अपत्यत्रयमाधत्त शिखण्डिन्यां सुसम्मतम् ॥ ३ ॥
antardhāna-gatiṁ śakrāl
[antardhaana-gatim shakraal]
labdhvāntardhāna-saṁjñitaḥ
[labdhvaantardhaana-samjnitah]
apatya-trayam ādhatta
[apatya-trayam aadhatta]
śikhaṇḍinyāṁ susammatam
[shikhandinyaam susammatam]
antardhāna — of disappearance gatim — achievement śakrāt — from King Indra labdhvā — getting antardhāna — of the name saṁjñitaḥ — so nominated apatya — children trayam — three ādhatta — begot śikhaṇḍinyām — in Śikhaṇḍinī, his wife su-sammatam — approved by everyone.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
antardhāna-gatiṁ śakrāl
antardhāna
of disappearance
gatim
achievement
śakrāt
from King Indra
labdhvāntardhāna-saṁjñitaḥ
labdhvā
getting
antardhāna
of the name
saṁjñitaḥ
so nominated
apatya-trayam ādhatta
apatya
children
trayam
three
ādhatta
begot
śikhaṇḍinyāṁ susammatam
śikhaṇḍinyām
in Śikhaṇḍinī, his wife
su-sammatam
approved by everyone.
Formerly, Mahārāja Vijitāśva pleased the King of heaven, Indra, and from him received the title Antardhāna. His wife’s name was Śikhaṇḍinī, and by her he begot three good sons.

Mahārāja Vijitāśva was known as Antardhāna, which means “disappearance.” He received this title from Indra, and it refers to the time when Indra stole Mahārāja Pṛthu’s horse from the sacrificial arena. Indra was not visible to others when he was stealing the horse, but Mahārāja Pṛthu’s son Vijitāśva could see him. Yet despite his knowing that Indra was taking away his father’s horse, Vijitāśva did not attack him. This indicates that Mahārāja Vijitāśva respected the right persons. Although Indra was stealing the horse from his father, Vijitāśva knew perfectly well that Indra was not an ordinary thief. Since Indra was a great and powerful demigod and servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vijitāśva purposefully excused him due to sentiment only, even though Indra was acting wrongly. Thus Indra became very pleased with Vijitāśva at that time. The demigods have the great mystic power of being able to appear and disappear according to their will, and since Indra was very pleased with Vijitāśva, he bestowed this mystic power upon him. Thus Vijitāśva became known as Antardhāna.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Receiving the ability to disappear from Indra, Vijitāśva was called Antardhāna (disappearance). In his wife Śikhaṇḍinī, he begot three good sons. He got this ability after taking the horse from Indra during the horse sacrifice. After getting the boon from Indra he was called Antardhāna or “one who disappears.”
Vijitāśva pleased Indra and received the title Antardhāna ('disappearance'); his wife Śikhaṇḍinī bore three good sons. Pleasing even an envious power yields title and gift; reconciliation is also a strategy.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose 'Indra'-like figure in my life would I gain title and gift by genuinely pleasing?
  • Where do I refuse strategic reconciliation in favor of justified hostility?
📝 My note

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