SB 8.11.36 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.11.36

सोऽयं प्रतिहतो वज्रो मया मुक्तोऽसुरेऽल्पके । नाहं तदाददे दण्डं ब्रह्मतेजोऽप्यकारणम् ॥ ३६ ॥

so ’yaṁ pratihato vajro

[so ’yam pratihato vajro]

mayā mukto ’sure ’lpake

[mayaa mukto ’sure ’lpake]

nāhaṁ tad ādade daṇḍaṁ

[naaham tad aadade dandam]

brahma-tejo ’py akāraṇam

[brahma-tejo ’py akaaranam]

Word-for-word

saḥ ayam — therefore, this thunderbolt pratihataḥ — repelled vajraḥ — thunderbolt mayā — by me muktaḥ — released asure — unto that demon alpake — less important na — not aham — I tat — that ādade — hold daṇḍam — it is now just like a rod brahma-tejaḥ — as powerful as a brahmāstra api — although akāraṇam — now it is useless.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

so ’yaṁ pratihato vajro

saḥ ayam

therefore, this thunderbolt

pratihataḥ

repelled

vajraḥ

thunderbolt

mayā mukto ’sure ’lpake

mayā

by me

muktaḥ

released

asure

unto that demon

alpake

less important

nāhaṁ tad ādade daṇḍaṁ

not

aham

tat

that

ādade

hold

daṇḍam

it is now just like a rod

brahma-tejo ’py akāraṇam

brahma-tejaḥ

as powerful as a brahmāstra

api

although

akāraṇam

now it is useless.

But now, although the same thunderbolt has been released against a less important demon, it has been ineffectual. Therefore, although it was as good as a brahmāstra, it has now become useless like an ordinary rod. I shall therefore hold it no longer.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

That same thunderbolt which I released at this insignificant demon has been nullified. Being strong as a brahmāstra, I will not hold this useless stick any longer. He thinks of the thunderbolt as an ordinary stick.

Personal Guidance

Indra decided to put down the thunderbolt — useless now like an ordinary rod. Wisdom includes letting go of a tool when it has stopped working. Loyalty to past power becomes superstition if continued past its time.

Reflection Questions

What 'thunderbolt' am I still wielding even though it no longer pierces?
Where would putting down a familiar tool open me to receive a new one?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io