Shloka 7
Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure
यत्संश्रयाद् द्रुपदगेहमुपागतानां राज्ञां स्वयंवरमुखे स्मरदुर्मदानाम् । तेजो हृतं खलु मयाभिहतश्च मत्स्य: सज्जीकृतेन धनुषाधिगता च कृष्णा ॥ ७ ॥
yat-saṁśrayād drupada-geham upāgatānāṁ rājñāṁ svayaṁvara-mukhe smara-durmadānām tejo hṛtaṁ khalu mayābhihataś ca matsyaḥ sajjīkṛtena dhanuṣādhigatā ca kṛṣṇā
அவரின் ஆதரவாலேயே த்ருபதன் அரண்மனையில் சுயம்வரத்தில் காம-அகந்தையால் மயங்கிய அரசர்களின் தேஜஸை நான் தகர்த்தேன்; வில்லைத் தயார் செய்து மீன் இலக்கைத் துளைத்து த்ரௌபதியை (கிருஷ்ணா) பெற்றேன்।
Draupadī was the most beautiful daughter of King Drupada, and when she was a young girl almost all the princes desired her hand. But Drupada Mahārāja decided to hand over his daughter to Arjuna only and therefore contrived a peculiar way. There was a fish hanging on the inner roof of the house under the protection of a wheel. The condition was that out of the princely order, one must be able to pierce the fish’s eyes through the wheel of protection, and no one would be allowed to look up at the target. On the ground there was a waterpot in which the target and wheel were reflected, and one had to fix his aim towards the target by looking at the trembling water in the pot. Mahārāja Drupada well knew that only Arjuna or alternately Karṇa could successfully carry out the plan. But still he wanted to hand his daughter to Arjuna. And in the assembly of the princely order, when Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the brother of Draupadī, introduced all the princes to his grown-up sister, Karṇa was also present in the game. But Draupadī tactfully avoided Karṇa as the rival of Arjuna, and she expressed her desires through her brother Dhṛṣṭadyumna that she was unable to accept anyone who was less than a kṣatriya. The vaiśyas and the śūdras are less important than the kṣatriyas. Karṇa was known as the son of a carpenter, a śūdra. So Draupadī avoided Karṇa by this plea. When Arjuna, in the dress of a poor brāhmaṇa, pierced the difficult target, everyone was astonished, and all of them, especially Karṇa, offered a stiff fight to Arjuna, but as usual by the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa he was able to emerge very successful in the princely fight and thus gain the valuable hand of Kṛṣṇā, or Draupadī. Arjuna was lamentingly remembering the incident in the absence of the Lord, by whose strength only he was so powerful.
FAQs
This verse states that by taking shelter of Krishna, even mighty kings lost their proud power, while Krishna effortlessly accomplished the impossible—showing that divine shelter surpasses mere worldly prowess.
He is recalling Krishna’s decisive help in the Pandavas’ life—how Krishna’s presence and protection overturned the arrogance of rival kings and secured Draupadi, highlighting Krishna as their ultimate refuge.
Rely on sincere spiritual shelter—prayer, humility, and dharmic action—rather than ego or desire-driven competition; pride collapses, but steady devotion brings clarity and success aligned with dharma.