Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)

Devanagari script

रथस्थो धनुरादाय शूरांश्चारुन्धतो भटान् । विद्राव्य क्रोशतां स्वानां स्वभागं मृगराडिव ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

ratha-stho dhanur ādāya śūrāṁś cārundhato bhaṭān vidrāvya krośatāṁ svānāṁ sva-bhāgaṁ mṛga-rāḍ iva

Translation

Standing on his chariot, Arjuna took up his bow and drove off the valiant fighters and palace guards who tried to block his way. As her relatives shouted in anger, he took Subhadrā away just as a lion takes his prey from the midst of lesser animals.

Synonyms

• रथस्थः: standing on the chariot
• रथस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; स्था-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण: 'स्थ' (क्तिन्/स्थ-प्रत्ययान्त)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धा-धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; धातु: √दा (to take) उपसर्ग: आ-

• शूरान्: heroes/valiant men
• शूरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अरुन्धतः: of (him) not restraining/blocking
• अरुन्धतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-रुध् (रुध्-धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; नकारार्थे उपसर्ग: अ- (negation)

• भटान्: soldiers
• भटान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विद्राव्य: having driven away
• विद्राव्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-द्रु (द्रु-धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; धातु: √द्रु (to run) उपसर्ग: वि-; causative sense in usage: 'having driven away'

• क्रोशताम्: of those crying out
• क्रोशताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोशत् (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक; क्रुश्-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त 'crying' (of those who cry)

• स्वानाम्: of his own (people)
• स्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• स्वभागम्: his own share/portion
• स्वभागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य भागः

• मृगराट्: the king of beasts (lion)
• मृगराट्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग-राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मृगाणां राट् (king)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.86.10 describe about Krishna’s valor?

It depicts Kṛṣṇa on His chariot taking up His bow, routing obstructing warriors, and claiming His rightful share—likened to a lion asserting dominion.

Why is Krishna compared to a lion (mṛgarāṭ) in this verse?

The lion metaphor conveys fearless mastery and rightful authority—Kṛṣṇa effortlessly overcomes opposition and takes what is properly His.

How can devotees apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

Stand firmly for dharma, protect what is rightfully entrusted to you, and face obstacles with courage while remaining aligned with devotion and duty.