SB 10.66.41 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.66.41

చక్రం చ విష్ణోస్తదనుప్రవిష్టం వారాణసీం సాట్టసభాలయాపణామ్ । సగోపురాట్టాలకకోష్ఠసఙ్కులాం సకోశహస్త్యశ్వరథాన్నశాలినీమ్ ॥ ౪౧ ॥

cakraṁ ca viṣṇos tad-anupraviṣṭaṁ

[chakram cha vishnos tad-anupravishtam]

vārānasīṁ sāṭṭa-sabhālayāpaṇām

[vaaraanaseem saatta-sabhaalayaapanaam]

sa-gopurāṭṭālaka-koṣṭha-saṅkulāṁ

[sa-gopuraattaalaka-koshtha-sankulaam]

sa-kośa-hasty-aśva-rathānna-śālinīm

[sa-kosha-hasty-ashva-rathaanna-shaalineem]

Word-for-word

cakram — the disc ca — and viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu tat — it (the fire demon) anupraviṣṭam — entering in pursuit vārāṇasīm — Vārāṇasī sa — with aṭṭa — raised porches sabhā — its assembly halls ālaya — residences āpaṇām — and marketplaces sa — with gopura — gateways aṭṭālaka — watchtowers koṣṭha — and warehouses saṅkulām — crowded sa — with kośa — banks hasti — for elephants aśva — horses ratha — chariots anna — and grains śālinīm — with the buildings .

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

cakraṁ ca viṣṇos tad-anupraviṣṭaṁ

cakram

the disc

and

viṣṇoḥ

of Lord Viṣṇu

tat

it (the fire demon)

anupraviṣṭam

entering in pursuit

vārānasīṁ sāṭṭa-sabhālayāpaṇām

vārāṇasīm

Vārāṇasī

with

aṭṭa

raised porches

sabhā

its assembly halls

ālaya

residences

āpaṇām

and marketplaces

sa-gopurāṭṭālaka-koṣṭha-saṅkulāṁ

with

gopura

gateways

aṭṭālaka

watchtowers

koṣṭha

and warehouses

saṅkulām

crowded

sa-kośa-hasty-aśva-rathānna-śālinīm

with

kośa

banks

hasti

for elephants

aśva

horses

ratha

chariots

anna

and grains

śālinīm

with the buildings .

Important Words

anupraviṣṭam — entering in pursuit
Past participle of anu-pra-√viś (to enter after). The disc follows the kṛtyā in. Gauḍīyas note: the disc's entry into Kāśī is structural — it has gone where its target went. The verse does not show Sudarśana exceeding its assignment; it shows the assignment growing to include the city that sheltered the wrongdoing.
sabhā-ālaya-āpaṇām — assembly halls, residences, and marketplaces
Compound: sabhā (hall) + ālaya (dwelling) + āpaṇa (market). The civic anatomy of Vārāṇasī. Gauḍīyas note that the verse takes care to enumerate every public space — the disc's work is methodical, not frenetic.
gopura-aṭṭālaka-koṣṭha — gateways, watchtowers, warehouses
Compound: gopura (city-gate) + aṭṭālaka (watchtower) + koṣṭha (granary, warehouse). The defensive and provisioning infrastructure. The chapter is precise: the city is dismantled limb by limb, not symbolically but literally.
saṅkulām — crowded (with)
Adjective from sam-√kul (to be crowded). The city is crowded with all these structures — densely settled — and the disc burns it crowded. Gauḍīyas note: the verb's force is one of completeness; nothing is left for tomorrow's rebuilding.
hasti-aśva — elephants and horses
Compound: hasti (elephant) + aśva (horse). The cavalry-livestock of Kāśī. The Bhāgavata's specificity reaches even to the stables — what was raised as instruments of Kāśī's army is consumed alongside the army it served.

Lord Viṣṇu’s disc also entered Vārāṇasī, in pursuit of the fiery demon, and proceeded to burn the city to the ground, including all its assembly halls and residential palaces with raised porches, its numerous marketplaces, gateways, watchtowers, warehouses and treasuries, and all the buildings housing elephants, horses, chariots and grains.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu's disc also entered Vārāṇasī, in pursuit of the fiery demon, and proceeded to burn the city to the ground, including all its assembly halls and residential palaces with raised porches, its numerous marketplaces, gateways, watchtowers, warehouses and treasuries, and all the buildings housing elephants, horses, chariots and grains.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

The cakra burned down the city. The verb is understood from the previous verse. Instead of śālinīm sometimes śālām is seen.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

The cakra burned down the city. The cakra entered the city after the demon has performed his actions (tad-anu). Since the Lord pervaded the universe (viṣṇoḥ) his cakra had similar power of pervasion. Thus the cakra burned the gates, towers and storehouses. Instead of śālinīm sometimes śālām is seen.

Related values & verses

Related values

Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)

Related lectures

Sesa Pr SB 10-66-41-43 - 2015-06-08 ISKCON Alachua
His Grace Sesa Prabhu· 2015-06-08· English

Personal Guidance

Analogy

A pursuing fire walks every street, every market, every gateway, watchtower, and treasury — and renders them all ash. The disc of Viṣṇu, having followed the kṛtyā into Kāśī, accepts the role of city-cleanser. Sudarśana does not skim; it finishes what it enters.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io