Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.11.17
तस्य तत् पूजयन् कर्म यन्तुर्दानवसत्तम: ।
शूलेन ज्वलता तं तु स्मयमानोऽहनन्मृधे ॥ १७ ॥
tasya tat pūjayan karma
[tasya tat poojayan karma]
yantur dānava-sattamaḥ
[yantur daanava-sattamah]
śūlena jvalatā taṁ tu
[shoolena jvalataa tam tu]
smayamāno ’hanan mṛdhe
[smayamaano ’hanan mridhe]
Word-for-word
tasya
—
of Mātali
tat
—
that service (bringing the chariot before Indra)
pūjayan
—
appreciating
karma
—
such service to the master
yantuḥ
—
of the chariot driver
dānava-sat-tamaḥ
—
the best of the demons, namely Jambhāsura
śūlena
—
by his trident
jvalatā
—
which was blazing fire
tam
—
Mātali
tu
—
indeed
smayamānaḥ
—
smiling
ahanat
—
struck
mṛdhe
—
in the battle.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasya tat pūjayan karma
tasya
of Mātali
tat
that service (bringing the chariot before Indra)
pūjayan
appreciating
karma
such service to the master
yantur dānava-sattamaḥ
yantuḥ
of the chariot driver
dānava-sat-tamaḥ
the best of the demons, namely Jambhāsura
śūlena jvalatā taṁ tu
śūlena
by his trident
jvalatā
which was blazing fire
tam
Mātali
tu
indeed
smayamāno ’hanan mṛdhe
smayamānaḥ
smiling
ahanat
struck
mṛdhe
in the battle.
Appreciating Mātali’s service, Jambhāsura, the best of the demons, smiled. Nonetheless, he struck Mātali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Though appreciating the action of the driver, the best of the demons Jambhāsura with a smile struck Mātali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire.
Personal Guidance
Jambhāsura smiled appreciating Mātali's service — then struck him with a blazing trident. Even demons can recognize excellence in others before destroying them. Recognition does not guarantee mercy. Beware admirers with weapons.
Reflection Questions
- Whose admiration of me has been followed by an attack — and what did I miss in the smile?
- Where am I drawing dangerous attention by being good at what I do?
My note
Source: vedabase.io