Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.2.22
गोपुच्छशालावृकमर्कटाश्च ।
अन्यत्र क्षुद्रा हरिणा: शशादय-
श्चरन्त्यभीता यदनुग्रहेण ॥ २२ ॥
vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣa-śalyā
[vrikaa varaahaa mahisharksha-shalyaa]
gopuccha-śālāvṛka-markaṭāś ca
[gopuchcha-shaalaavrika-markataash cha]
anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś
[anyatra kshudraa harinaah shashaadayash]
caranty abhītā yad-anugraheṇa
[charanty abheetaa yad-anugrahena]
Word-for-word
vṛkāḥ
—
foxes
varāhāḥ
—
boars
mahiṣa
—
buffalos
ṛkṣa
—
bears
śalyāḥ
—
porcupines
gopuccha
—
a type of deer
śālāvṛka
—
wolves
markaṭāḥ
—
monkeys
ca
—
and
anyatra
—
elsewhere
kṣudrāḥ
—
small animals
hariṇāḥ
—
deer
śaśa-ādayaḥ
—
rabbits and others
caranti
—
roaming (in the forest)
abhītāḥ
—
without fear
yat-anugraheṇa
—
by the mercy of that elephant.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣa-śalyā
vṛkāḥ
foxes
varāhāḥ
boars
mahiṣa
buffalos
ṛkṣa
bears
śalyāḥ
porcupines
gopuccha-śālāvṛka-markaṭāś ca
gopuccha
a type of deer
śālāvṛka
wolves
markaṭāḥ
monkeys
ca
and
anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś
anyatra
elsewhere
kṣudrāḥ
small animals
hariṇāḥ
deer
śaśa-ādayaḥ
rabbits and others
caranty abhītā yad-anugraheṇa
caranti
roaming (in the forest)
abhītāḥ
without fear
yat-anugraheṇa
by the mercy of that elephant.
By the mercy of this elephant, animals like the foxes, wolves, buffalos, bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits, the other deer and many other small animals loitered elsewhere in the forest. They were not afraid of him.
Purport
All the animals were practically controlled by this elephant, yet although they could move without fear, because of respect they did not stand before him.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
By the mercy of this elephant, animals like wolves, buffalos, bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, jackals, monkeys, rabbits, and deer moved about in the forest without fear.
Smaller animals moved without fear by his mercy. However, other animals avoided his glance.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Foxes, deer, rabbits, and other small animals safely wandered the forest under the bull's protection. True leadership creates space for smaller beings to flourish. Power is measured not just by who fears you but by who can breathe freely because of you.
Reflection Questions
- Who is breathing more freely in this world because of my presence and choices?
- How can I use whatever authority I have to protect rather than to crowd out the small?
My note
Source: vedabase.io