Shloka 13
Draupadī Meets Kṛṣṇa’s Queens — Narratives of the Lord’s Marriages and the Queens’ Bhakti
श्रीसत्योवाच सप्तोक्षणोऽतिबलवीर्यसुतीक्ष्णशृङ्गान् पित्रा कृतान् क्षितिपवीर्यपरीक्षणाय । तान् वीरदुर्मदहनस्तरसा निगृह्य क्रीडन् बबन्ध ह यथा शिशवोऽजतोकान् ॥ १३ ॥ य इत्थं वीर्यशुल्कां मां दासीभिश्चतुरङ्गिणीम् । पथि निर्जित्य राजन्यान् निन्ये तद्दास्यमस्तु मे ॥ १४ ॥
śrī-satyovāca saptokṣaṇo ’ti-bala-vīrya-su-tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgān pitrā kṛtān kṣitipa-vīrya-parīkṣaṇāya tān vīra-durmada-hanas tarasā nigṛhya krīḍan babandha ha yathā śiśavo ’ja-tokān
Śrī Satyā said: My father set forth seven bulls—immensely strong and vigorous, with razor-sharp horns—to test the prowess of the kings who sought my hand. Those bulls had burned away the pride of many heroes, yet Śrī Kṛṣṇa subdued them with ease, binding them as children playfully tie up little goats. Thus He won me, paying the bride-price with His valor. Then, with my maidservants and a fourfold army, He carried me off, defeating the kings who opposed Him along the way. May I be granted the blessed privilege of serving that Lord.
FAQs
Satyā explains that her father arranged seven immensely powerful bulls to test royal suitors; Kṛṣṇa effortlessly subdued and bound them, winning her hand.
Because He defeats displays of arrogant strength with ease, showing that worldly power is insignificant before the Supreme Lord.
The verse teaches humility: what seems impossible to humans is effortless for the Divine, so devotion and surrender are stronger than pride in ability.