Shloka 19
Draupadī Meets Kṛṣṇa’s Queens — Narratives of the Lord’s Marriages and the Queens’ Bhakti
यथा स्वयंवरे राज्ञि मत्स्य: पार्थेप्सया कृत: । अयं तु बहिराच्छन्नो दृश्यते स जले परम् ॥ १९ ॥
yathā svayaṁ-vare rājñi matsyaḥ pārthepsayā kṛtaḥ ayaṁ tu bahir ācchanno dṛśyate sa jale param
ఓ రాణీ, నీ స్వయంవరంలో అర్జునుని భర్తగా పొందేందుకు చేపను లక్ష్యంగా పెట్టినట్లే, నా స్వయంవరంలో కూడా చేపనే లక్ష్యంగా పెట్టారు. అయితే నా సందర్భంలో అది అన్ని వైపులా కప్పబడి ఉండి, కింద నీటి పాత్రలో దాని ప్రతిబింబమే కనిపించేది.
Arjuna is famous as the most expert bowman. Why, then, could he not hit the fish target at Śrīmatī Lakṣmaṇā’s svayaṁvara ceremony just as he had done once before to win Draupadī? Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains: The target at Draupadī’s svayaṁvara had been covered only partially, so that a marksman could see it if he looked straight up the pillar on which it was placed. To shoot Lakṣmaṇā’s target, however, it was necessary to aim by looking up and down at the same time, an impossible feat for any mortal. Therefore only Kṛṣṇa could strike the target.
FAQs
The verse recalls the famous test where the fish-target’s true position was discerned via its reflection in water, highlighting extraordinary focus and the destined selection of Arjuna.
Because the queens’ conversation recollects celebrated events connected to Kṛṣṇa’s circle and the Pāṇḍavas, including Draupadī’s svayaṁvara where Arjuna’s skill fulfilled the intended outcome.
It teaches disciplined attention and correct perspective—success often comes by learning how to perceive the truth indirectly and steadily, without being distracted by what is merely “outerly covered.”