FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.12.37

तमविक्लवमव्रीडमालक्ष्य मधुसूदन: उवाच परमप्रीतो बिभ्रत्स्वां पौरुषीं तनुम् ॥ ३७ ॥
tam aviklavam avrīḍam
[tam aviklavam avreedam]
ālakṣya madhusūdanaḥ
[aalakshya madhusoodanah]
uvāca parama-prīto
[uvaacha parama-preeto]
bibhrat svāṁ pauruṣīṁ tanum
[bibhrat svaam paurusheem tanum]
Word-for-word
tam — him (Lord Śiva) aviklavam — without being agitated by the incident that had taken place avrīḍam — without being ashamed ālakṣya — seeing madhu-sūdanaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Madhusūdana, the killer of the demon Madhu uvāca — said parama-prītaḥ — being very pleased bibhrat — assuming svām — His own pauruṣīm — original tanum — form.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tam aviklavam avrīḍam
tam
him (Lord Śiva)
aviklavam
without being agitated by the incident that had taken place
avrīḍam
without being ashamed
ālakṣya madhusūdanaḥ
ālakṣya
seeing
madhu-sūdanaḥ
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Madhusūdana, the killer of the demon Madhu
uvāca parama-prīto
uvāca
said
parama-prītaḥ
being very pleased
bibhrat svāṁ pauruṣīṁ tanum
bibhrat
assuming
svām
His own
pauruṣīm
original
tanum
form.
Seeing Lord Śiva unagitated and unashamed, Lord Viṣṇu [Madhusūdana] was very pleased. Thus He resumed His original form and spoke as follows.
Purport

Although Lord Śiva was aghast at the potency of Lord Viṣṇu, he did not feel ashamed. Rather, he was proud to be defeated by Lord Viṣṇu. Nothing is hidden from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for He is in everyone’s heart. Indeed, the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) , sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” Whatever happened had taken place under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore there was no cause to be sorry or ashamed. Although Lord Śiva is never defeated by anyone, when defeated by Lord Viṣṇu he felt proud that he had such an exalted and powerful master.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Seeing Lord Śiva unagitated and unashamed, Lord Viṣṇu, in his male form, very pleased, spoke as follows. Śiva was not agitated with guilt, thinking “What calamity! I, the lord of great yoga, have been blinded by material enjoyment.” He was without shame, since the Lord is his antaryāmī, witnessing everything. The meaning is this. I cannot be bewildered by anyone, and bewilderment caused by my Lord is not a fault, but an ornament. Without causing my bewilderment, how could one say my Lord has extraordinary power? That display of power nourishes the quality of bhakti of me, his servant.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Seeing Śiva unagitated and unashamed, Viṣṇu was pleased and resumed His form. The devotee's response to defeat — proud of having such a Lord rather than ashamed — pleases the Lord. Defeat by Him is its own honor.
Reflection Questions
  • When I am 'defeated' by the Lord, do I feel ashamed or quietly honored?
  • Where does pride in being His servant exceed pride in my own standing?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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