SB 10.83.24
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 24
- matsyābhāsaṁ jale vīkṣya
- jñātvā ca tad-avasthitim
- pārtho yatto 'sṛjad bāṇaṁ
- nācchinat paspṛśe param
SYNONYMS
matsya — of the fish; ābhāsam — the reflection; jale — in the water; vīkṣya — looking at; jñātvā — knowing; ca — and; tat — its; avasthitim — location; pārthaḥ — Arjuna; yattaḥ — taking careful aim; asṛjat — shot; bāṇam — the arrow; na acchinat — he did not pierce it; paspṛśe — he touched it; param — only.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
Then Arjuna looked at the reflection of the fish in the water and determined its position. When he carefully shot his arrow at it, however, he did not pierce the target but merely grazed it.
PURPORT
According to the explanation of Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Arjuna was more expert a marksman than the other kings, but his physical strength was not adequate to the task of shooting it with perfect accuracy.