Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.2.3
पृषध्रस्तु मनो: पुत्रो गोपालो गुरुणा कृत: ।
पालयामास गा यत्तो रात्र्यां वीरासनव्रत: ॥ ३ ॥
pṛṣadhras tu manoḥ putro
[prishadhras tu manoh putro]
go-pālo guruṇā kṛtaḥ
[go-paalo gurunaa kritah]
pālayām āsa gā yatto
[paalayaam aasa gaa yatto]
rātryāṁ vīrāsana-vrataḥ
[raatryaam veeraasana-vratah]
Word-for-word
pṛṣadhraḥ tu
—
among them, Pṛṣadhra
manoḥ
—
of Manu
putraḥ
—
the son
go-pālaḥ
—
herding cows
guruṇā
—
by the order of his spiritual master
kṛtaḥ
—
having been engaged
pālayām āsa
—
he protected
gāḥ
—
cows
yattaḥ
—
so engaged
rātryām
—
at night
vīrāsana-vrataḥ
—
taking the vow of vīrāsana, standing with a sword.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pṛṣadhras tu manoḥ putro
pṛṣadhraḥ tu
among them, Pṛṣadhra
manoḥ
of Manu
putraḥ
the son
go-pālo guruṇā kṛtaḥ
go-pālaḥ
herding cows
guruṇā
by the order of his spiritual master
kṛtaḥ
having been engaged
pālayām āsa gā yatto
pālayām āsa
he protected
gāḥ
cows
yattaḥ
so engaged
rātryāṁ vīrāsana-vrataḥ
rātryām
at night
vīrāsana-vrataḥ
taking the vow of vīrāsana, standing with a sword.
Among these sons, Pṛṣadhra, following the order of his spiritual master, was engaged as a protector of cows. He would stand all night with a sword to give the cows protection.
Purport
One who becomes vīrāsana takes the vow to stand all night with a sword to give protection to the cows. Because Pṛṣadhra was engaged in this way, it is to be understood that he had no dynasty. We can further understand from this vow accepted by Pṛṣadhra how essential it is to protect the cows. Some son of a kṣatriya would take this vow to protect the cows from ferocious animals, even at night. What then is to be said of sending cows to slaughterhouses? This is the most sinful activity in human society.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Among these sons, Pṛṣadhra, following the order of his guru, was engaged as a protector of cows. He would stand all night with a sword with great attention.
Pṛṣadhra had no descendents. The reason is explained. Khaḍga-pāṇeḥ means he would stay awake all night with a sword in his hand. Yattḥaḥ means with attention.
Personal Guidance
Pṛṣadhra accepts the night-vigil vow of vīrāsana to protect cows. Protecting the vulnerable is a kṣatriya's quiet, unsung work — and far from cow slaughter, true dharma stands guard.
Reflection Questions
- Whom am I responsible to protect that I have not actually been standing guard over?
- What lesser duty has crowded out a higher one of compassion?
My note
Source: vedabase.io