Shloka 34
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
शिबिराय निनीषन्तं रज्ज्वा बद्ध्वा रिपुं बलात् । प्राहार्जुनं प्रकुपितो भगवानम्बुजेक्षण: ॥ ३४ ॥
śibirāya ninīṣantaṁ rajjvā baddhvā ripuṁ balāt prāhārjunaṁ prakupito bhagavān ambujekṣaṇaḥ
Selepas mengikat Aśvatthāmā, Arjuna mahu membawanya ke kem tentera. Keperibadian Tuhan Yang Maha Esa Śrī Kṛṣṇa, dengan mata teratai-Nya, bercakap kepada Arjuna dalam nada marah.
Both Arjuna and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are described here in an angry mood, but Arjuna’s eyes were like balls of red copper whereas the eyes of the Lord were like lotuses. This means that the angry mood of Arjuna and that of the Lord are not on the same level. The Lord is Transcendence, and thus He is absolute in any stage. His anger is not like the anger of a conditioned living being within the modes of qualitative material nature. Because He is absolute, both His anger and pleasure are the same. His anger is not exhibited in the three modes of material nature. It is only a sign of His bent of mind towards the cause of His devotee because that is His transcendental nature. Therefore, even if He is angry, the object of anger is blessed. He is unchanged in all circumstances.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa becoming angered as Arjuna brings the bound offender to camp, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s guidance on righteous punishment (dharma) in response to grave wrongdoing.
It describes Arjuna forcibly binding the enemy (Aśvatthāmā) with a rope and taking him toward the camp, while Kṛṣṇa, the lotus-eyed Lord, speaks to Arjuna in anger.
Even when confronting wrongdoing, the verse points to the need for guidance and dharmic restraint—acting responsibly rather than being driven solely by rage or revenge.