SB 10.83.19
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 19
- yathā svayaṁ-vare rājñi
- matsyaḥ pārthepsayā kṛtaḥ
- ayaṁ tu bahir ācchanno
- dṛśyate sa jale param
SYNONYMS
yathā—just as; svayam-vare—in (your) svayaṁ-vara ceremony; rājñi—O Queen; matsyaḥ—a fish; pārtha—Arjuna; īpsayā—with the desire of obtaining; kṛtaḥ—made (into a target); ayam—this (fish); tu—however; bahiḥ—outwardly; ācchannaḥ—covered; dṛśyate—was seen; saḥ—it; jale—in water; param—only.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
Just as a fish was used as a target in your svayaṁ-vara ceremony, O Queen, to assure that you would obtain Arjuna as your husband, so a fish was also used in my ceremony. In my case, however, it was concealed on all sides, and only its reflection could be seen in a pot of water below.
PURPORT
Arjuna is famous as the most expert bowman. Why, then, could he not hit the fish target at Śrīmatī Lakṣmaṇā's svayaṁ-vara ceremony just as he had done once before to win Draupadī? Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains: The target at Draupadī's svayaṁ-vara 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.