Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.18.21
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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vāhya-vāhaka-lakṣaṇāḥ
—
characterized by the carried and the carrier
Vāhya (one to be carried) + vāhaka (carrier) + lakṣaṇa (characterized by). The grammar names the game's bipolar structure exactly. Gauḍīyas note that bhakti has the same vāhya-vāhaka grammar — the Lord carries the devotee, and consents to be carried by him.
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jetāraḥ
—
the winners
Plural of jetṛ — conqueror. The verbal form will return in the Bhāgavatam's verses about devotees who 'conquer' the unconquerable Lord by their prema. Even the children's game is preaching ajita-jit.
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ārohanti
—
(the winners) climb
Present indicative of ā+√ruh — to mount, to climb. Same root as ārohaṇa, the ascent. The winners ascend onto the backs of the losers — physical hierarchy flipped, mood-hierarchy untouched.
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vahanti
—
(the defeated) carry
Present of √vah — to carry. Same root as vāhana, the carrier-vehicle of every deity. Vraja's losers become each other's vāhanas — an unspoken theology of mutual servitude.
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parājitāḥ
—
the defeated
Parā+√ji — defeated. In a moment Bhagavān Himself will be among the parājita — the Lord whom nothing can defeat consents to be on the losing team. The verse stages defeat as a precondition of seva.
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī quotes the following relevant verse from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (5.9.12): hariṇākrīḍanaṁ nāma bāla-krīdaṇakaṁ tataḥ prakrīḍatā hi te sarve dvau dvau yugapad utpatan “They then played the childhood game known as hariṇākrīḍanam, in which each boy paired off with an opponent and all the boys simultaneously attacked their respective rivals.”
It was an appearance of play (bahya vahaka). The purpose is described. The person who was found after hiding himself would be the loser and have to carry the victor on his shoulders.
They played games like hariṇā-krīḍaṇa. Viṣṇu Purāṇa says hariṇākrīḍanaṁ nāma bālakrīḍanakaṁ tataḥ prakrīḍatā hi te sarve dvau dvau yugapad utpatan They then played the children’s game called hariṇākrīḍana. Two at a time would try to reach the goal by leaping like frogs.
The losers carry the winners. In Vraja the defeated wear the victors as a crown — and Bhagavān is willing to be either, because His victory is in the playing, not the score. This is the inversion the saṁsāra-mind cannot precompute.
My note
Source: vedabase.io