FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.45.38

తథేత్యథారుహ్య మహారథౌ రథం ప్రభాసమాసాద్య దురన్తవిక్రమౌ । వేలాముపవ్రజ్య నిషీదతు: క్షణం సిన్ధుర్విదిత్వార్హణమాహరత్తయో: ॥ ౩౮ ॥
tethety athāruhya mahā-rathau rathaṁ
[tethety athaaruhya mahaa-rathau ratham]
prabhāsam āsādya duranta-vikramau
[prabhaasam aasaadya duranta-vikramau]
velām upavrajya niṣīdatuḥ kṣanaṁ
[velaam upavrajya nisheedatuh kshanam]
sindhur viditvārhanam āharat tayoḥ
[sindhur viditvaarhanam aaharat tayoh]
tathā — so be it iti — saying this atha — then āruhya — mounting mahā - rathau — the two great chariot warriors ratham — a chariot prabhāsam — Prabhāsa-tīrtha āsādya — reaching duranta — limitless vikramau — whose prowess velām — up to the shore upavrajya — walking niṣīdatuḥ — They sat down kṣaṇam — for a moment sindhuḥ — the (presiding demigod of the) ocean viditvā — recognizing arhaṇam — respectful offering āharat — brought tayoḥ — for Them .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tethety athāruhya mahā-rathau rathaṁ
prabhāsam āsādya duranta-vikramau
tathā
so be it
velām upavrajya niṣīdatuḥ kṣanaṁ
sindhur viditvārhanam āharat tayoḥ
iti
saying this
atha
then
āruhya
mounting
mahā - rathau
the two great chariot warriors
ratham
a chariot
prabhāsam
Prabhāsa-tīrtha
āsādya
reaching
duranta
limitless
vikramau
whose prowess
velām
up to the shore
upavrajya
walking
niṣīdatuḥ
They sat down
kṣaṇam
for a moment
sindhuḥ
the (presiding demigod of the) ocean
viditvā
recognizing
arhaṇam
respectful offering
āharat
brought
tayoḥ
for Them .
  • mahā - rathau — the two great chariot warriors
    Mahā-ratha = a warrior capable of fighting many at once. A standard kṣatriya rank. Bhagavān, having just received dhanur-veda (v.34), is named by His new technical status — the gurukula has done its work.
  • duranta - vikramau — of limitless prowess
    Duranta = endless; vikrama = prowess. Sāndīpani called Their matti ati-mānuṣī (v.37); now Their vikrama is duranta. The hiding is finally over.
  • velām upavrajya — walking up to the shore
    Velā = shore, tide-line; upavrajya = approaching. Same root as Vraja (verse 23). The chapter quietly returns the syllable vraja in geography: Vraja was left behind, but the verb of going-toward continues.
  • niṣīdatuḥ kṣaṇam — they sat down for a moment
    Bhagavān's sitting is a calling. A single kṣaṇa of His seated presence is enough; the deity of the ocean responds within that moment.
  • sindhuḥ viditvā — the ocean, knowing
    Sindhu = ocean (personified). Viditvā = having known. The ocean recognizes Bhagavān spontaneously — the cosmic backdrop is itself a knower. Gauḍīya cosmos is alive, never inert.
“So be it,” replied those two great chariot warriors of limitless might, and They at once mounted Their chariot and set off for Prabhāsa. When They reached that place, They walked up to the shore and sat down. In a moment the deity of the ocean, recognizing Them to be the Supreme Lords, approached Them with offerings of tribute.

Western scholars sometimes think that references in ancient books of wisdom to the deity of the ocean, the deity of the sun and so on reveal a primitive, mythical way of thinking. They sometimes say that primitive men think that the ocean is a god or that the sun and moon are gods. In fact, references such as the word sindhu in this verse, meaning “the ocean,” indicate the person who governs that aspect of physical nature. We can give several modern examples. In the United Nations we may say, “The United States votes ‘Yes,’ the Soviet Union votes ‘No.’” We hardly mean that the physical countries or the buildings in them have voted. We mean that a particular person, representing that political and geographical entity, has voted. Yet the newspapers will simply say, “The United States voted, decided, etc.” and everyone knows what that means. Similarly, in business we may say, “A large conglomerate has swallowed up a smaller firm.” We hardly mean that the buildings, office equipment and the like have physically swallowed another building full of workers and office equipment. We mean that the empowered authorities have engaged in a particular act on behalf of their respective corporate entities. Unfortunately, modern scholars are eager to confirm their pet theories that ancient spiritual wisdom is primitive, mythic and largely supplanted by more modern ways of thinking, exemplified by their own eloquent remarks. However, much in modern scholarship must be rethought in the light of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
"So be it," replied those two great chariot warriors of limitless might, and They at once mounted Their chariot and set off for Prabhāsa. When They reached that place, They walked up to the shore and sat down. In a moment the deity of the ocean, recognizing Them to be the Supreme Lords, approached Them with offerings of tribute.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

They accepted his request (tathā). Immediately (atha) they mounted the chariot. Mahārathau means they were the best of warriors equipped with all weapons. They could defeat unlimited enemies (duranta-vikramau). They arrived at the shore of the ocean. Another version has niṣedatuḥ. The ocean offered gifts such as valuable jewels.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses

The two great chariot-warriors say 'so be it' and arrive at Prabhāsa, sit on the shore, and the very ocean — recognizing them — rises with offerings. Bhagavān does not need to declare His identity; existence declares it back to Him every time He sits down.

📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 45