Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 17
Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure
सौत्ये वृत: कुमतिनात्मद ईश्वरो मे यत्पादपद्ममभवाय भजन्ति भव्या: । मां श्रान्तवाहमरयो रथिनो भुविष्ठं न प्राहरन् यदनुभावनिरस्तचित्ता: ॥ १७ ॥
sautye vṛtaḥ kumatinātmada īśvaro me yat-pāda-padmam abhavāya bhajanti bhavyāḥ māṁ śrānta-vāham arayo rathino bhuvi-ṣṭhaṁ na prāharan yad-anubhāva-nirasta-cittāḥ
In meiner törichten Verblendung wagte ich, den Īśvara, den Spender des Selbst—dessen Lotosfüße die Besten zur Erlösung verehren—zu meinem Wagenlenker zu machen. Und doch war es Seine Gnade, dass die feindlichen Wagenkämpfer mich nicht töteten, als ich für meine durstigen Pferde Wasser holte und zu Boden gestiegen war; denn durch Seine Macht war ihr Entschluss zunichte geworden.
The Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is the object of worship both by impersonalists and by the devotees of the Lord. The impersonalists worship His glowing effulgence, emanating from His transcendental body of eternal form, bliss and knowledge, and the devotees worship Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are below even the impersonalists consider Him to be one of the great historical personalities. The Lord, however, descends to attract all by His specific transcendental pastimes, and thus He plays the part of the most perfect master, friend, son and lover. His transcendental relation with Arjuna was in friendship, and the Lord therefore played the part perfectly, as He did with His parents, lovers and wives. While playing in such a perfect transcendental relation, the devotee forgets, by the internal potency of the Lord, that his friend or son is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although sometimes the devotee is bewildered by the acts of the Lord. After the departure of the Lord, Arjuna was conscious of his great friend, but there was no mistake on the part of Arjuna, nor any ill estimation of the Lord. Intelligent men are attracted by the transcendental acting of the Lord with a pure, unalloyed devotee like Arjuna.
FAQs
This verse shows Arjuna attributing his safety not to his own prowess but to the Lord’s supreme control—Krishna’s influence can restrain even enemies and avert danger for His devotee.
In Canto 1 Chapter 15, Arjuna reflects on how his victories and protection were truly due to Krishna; after Krishna’s departure, Arjuna feels his own power diminished and recognizes his dependence on the Lord.
Rely less on ego and more on sincere devotion and remembrance of God; cultivate humility, prayerful dependence, and steady practice, understanding that real protection and success ultimately come by divine grace.