Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 54

Kṛṣṇa Visits Indraprastha; Kuntī’s Remembrance; Kālindī and Further Marriages

Devanagari script

तानस्यत: शरव्रातान् बन्धुप्रियकृदर्जुन: । गाण्डीवी कालयामास सिंह: क्षुद्रमृगानिव ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

tān asyataḥ śara-vrātān bandhu-priya-kṛd arjunaḥ gāṇḍīvī kālayām āsa siṁhaḥ kṣudra-mṛgān iva

Translation

Arjuna, wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow and ever eager to please his friend Kṛṣṇa, drove back those foes who rained volleys of arrows upon the Lord, as a lion drives off insignificant beasts.

Synonyms

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• asyataḥ: of (him) shooting
• asyataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धा॒तु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of (him) who was throwing/shooting'

• śara-vrātān: volleys of arrows
• śara-vrātān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + vrāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'multitudes of arrows'

• bandhu-priya-kṛt: benefactor of his kinsmen
• bandhu-priya-kṛt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bandhu (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त, √kṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'one who does what is dear to (his) kinsmen'

• arjunaḥ: Arjuna
• arjunaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gāṇḍīvī: the wielder of Gāṇḍīva
• gāṇḍīvī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāṇḍīvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'possessor of the Gāṇḍīva (bow)'

• kālayāmāsa: drove away; repelled
• kālayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kal (धा॒तु) (causative: kālaya)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; causative stem kālaya-

• siṁhaḥ: a lion
• siṁhaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṁha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used in simile

• kṣudra-mṛgān: small animals
• kṣudra-mṛgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; karmadhāraya: 'small animals'

• iva: like; as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Gāṇḍīva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Arjuna’s prowess with the Gāṇḍīva?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes Arjuna cutting down the enemy’s volleys of arrows with the Gāṇḍīva, likening his superiority to a lion overpowering lesser animals.

Why is Arjuna compared to a lion in Bhagavatam 10.58.54?

The comparison highlights decisive strength and dominance: Arjuna effortlessly neutralizes the opponents’ attack, just as a lion easily dispatches weaker creatures.

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 10.58.54 for modern life?

Do your duty with steadiness and skill—especially when protecting others—without being overwhelmed by opposition, remembering that disciplined competence can dissolve many threats at once.