Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 23
The Sūtas Foretell the Glories and Future Deeds of King Pṛthu
विस्फूर्जयन्नाजगवं धनु: स्वयंयदाचरत्क्ष्मामविषह्यमाजौ । तदा निलिल्युर्दिशि दिश्यसन्तोलाङ्गूलमुद्यम्य यथा मृगेन्द्र: ॥ २३ ॥
visphūrjayann āja-gavaṁ dhanuḥ svayaṁ yadācarat kṣmām aviṣahyam ājau tadā nililyur diśi diśy asanto lāṅgūlam udyamya yathā mṛgendraḥ
When the lion travels in the forest with its tail turned upward, all menial animals hide themselves. Similarly, when King Pṛthu will travel over his kingdom and vibrate the string of his bow, which is made of the horns of goats and bulls and is irresistible in battle, all demoniac rogues and thieves will hide themselves in all directions.
It is very appropriate to compare a powerful king like Pṛthu to a lion. In India, kṣatriya kings are still called siṅgh, which means “lion.” Unless rogues, thieves and other demoniac people in a state are afraid of the executive head, who rules the kingdom with a strong hand, there cannot be peace or prosperity in the state. Thus it is most regrettable when a woman becomes the executive head instead of a lionlike king. In such a situation the people are considered very unfortunate.
FAQs
This verse shows that a righteous, divinely empowered ruler can become irresistible in battle, causing wicked forces to flee—illustrating how dharma is protected through strong, principled leadership.
Because Pṛthu’s presence and martial prowess became ‘aviṣahya’—unbearable to oppose—so the impious could not stand before him and scattered like animals before a lion.
Stand firmly for dharma with disciplined strength: when integrity and competence are evident, negativity and unethical opposition often retreat on their own.