FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.28.25

विकृष्यमाण: प्रसभं यवनेन बलीयसा । नाविन्दत्तमसाविष्ट: सखायं सुहृदं पुर: ॥ २५ ॥
vikṛṣyamāṇaḥ prasabhaṁ
[vikrishyamaanah prasabham]
yavanena balīyasā
[yavanena baleeyasaa]
nāvindat tamasāviṣṭaḥ
[naavindat tamasaavishtah]
sakhāyaṁ suhṛdaṁ puraḥ
[sakhaayam suhridam purah]
vikṛṣyamāṇaḥ — being dragged prasabham — forcibly yavanena — by the Yavana balīyasā — who was very powerful na avindat — could not remember tamasā — by darkness of ignorance āviṣṭaḥ — being covered sakhāyam — his friend suhṛdam — always a well-wisher puraḥ — from the very beginning.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vikṛṣyamāṇaḥ prasabhaṁ
vikṛṣyamāṇaḥ
being dragged
prasabham
forcibly
yavanena balīyasā
yavanena
by the Yavana
balīyasā
who was very powerful
nāvindat tamasāviṣṭaḥ
na avindat
could not remember
tamasā
by darkness of ignorance
āviṣṭaḥ
being covered
sakhāyaṁ suhṛdaṁ puraḥ
sakhāyam
his friend
suhṛdam
always a well-wisher
puraḥ
from the very beginning.
When King Purañjana was being dragged with great force by the powerful Yavana, out of his gross ignorance he still could not remember his friend and well-wisher, the Supersoul.

In Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) Lord Kṛṣṇa says:

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

A person can be in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and become happy and satisfied if he knows but three things — namely, that the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer of all benefits, that He is the proprietor of everything, and that He is the supreme friend of all living entities. If one does not know this and functions instead under the bodily conception, he is always harassed by the tribulations offered by material nature. In actuality, the Supreme Lord is sitting by the side of everyone: īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati ( Bg. 18.61 ). The living entity and the Supersoul are sitting side by side in the same tree, but despite being harassed by the laws of material nature, the foolish living entity does not turn toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead for protection. However, he thinks that he is able to protect himself from the stringent laws of material nature. This, however, is not possible. The living entity must turn toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead and surrender unto Him. Only then will he be saved from the onslaught of the powerful Yavana, or Yamarāja.

The word sakhāyam, “friend,” is very significant in this verse because God is eternally present beside the living entity. The Supreme Lord is also described as suḥrdam, “ever well-wisher.” The Supreme Lord is always a well-wisher, just like a father or mother. Despite all the offenses of a son, the father and mother are always the son’s well-wisher. Similarly, despite all our offenses and defiance of the desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord will give us immediate relief from all the hardships offered by material nature if we simply surrender unto Him, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā ( mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te ). Unfortunately, due to our bad association and great attachment for sense gratification, we do not remember our best friend, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As he was being dragged forcibly by the strong Yavanas, since he was covered by ignorance, he did not recognize the Supreme Lord his friend and his well-wisher from previous time. By ignorance he did not know the Supreme Lord who was his friend previously.
Related verses
Out of gross ignorance, he still couldn't remember his friend Supersoul. The biggest loss at the deathbed is failing to remember the Lord; the rest is replaceable.
Reflection Questions
  • What practice could ensure I would remember the Lord even under maximum stress?
  • Where am I betting on memory under conditions I haven't tested?
📝 My note

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