Devanagari
मत्स्याभासं जले वीक्ष्य ज्ञात्वा च तदवस्थितिम् ।
पार्थो यत्तोऽसृजद् बाणं नाच्छिनत् पस्पृशे परम् ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
matsyābhāsaṁ jale vīkṣya
jṣātvā 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
;
jṣātvā
—
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
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.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
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.
KB 10.83.24
“The celebrated hero of the Pāṇḍavas, Arjuna, was able to see the reflection of the fish on the water, but although with great care he traced out the location of the fish and shot an arrow, he did not pierce the fish in the right spot. But his arrow at least touched the fish, and so he proved himself better than all the other princes.
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.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
With great concentration Arjuna was able to detect the target in the reflection in the water (viskya), and carefully released his arrow. His arrow touched the fish but did not pierce it in the center. This was known because of the arrow mark on the side of the fish. Some say that he even though he was able to understand the location of the target, he cold not pierce it become he lacked the strength.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
With great concentration (vi), constantly, Arjuna saw (īkṣya) the fish reflected in the water. He just touched the fish. The arrow touched the fish in one spot but not in the center. One could understand that the arrow touched the fish because there was a mark left by the arrow. Arjuna did this on purpose in order to spread the glories of the Lord.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
With great concentration (vi), constantly, Arjuna saw (īkṣya) the fish reflected in the water. He just touched the fish. Knowing he was not capable, Arjuna did this in order to spread the glories of the Lord.