SB 10.89.30 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच सङ्कर्षणो वासुदेव: प्रद्युम्नो धन्विनां वर: । अनिरुद्धोऽप्रतिरथो न त्रातुं शक्नुवन्ति यत् ॥ ३० ॥ तत् कथं नु भवान् कर्म दुष्करं जगदीश्वरै: । त्वं चिकीर्षसि बालिश्यात् तन्न श्रद्दध्महे वयम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Verse text

śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca saṅkarṣaṇo vāsudevaḥ pradyumno dhanvināṁ varaḥ aniruddho ’prati-ratho na trātuṁ śaknuvanti yat tat kathaṁ nu bhavān karma duṣkaraṁ jagad-īśvaraiḥ tvaṁ cikīrṣasi bāliśyāt tan na śraddadhmahe vayam

Synonyms

śrī — brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca — the brāhmaṇa said ; saṅkarṣaṇaḥ — Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma) ; vāsudevaḥ — Lord Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) ; pradyumnaḥ — Pradyumna ; dhanvinām — of bowmen ; varaḥ — the greatest ; aniruddhaḥ — Aniruddha ; aprati — rathaḥ — unrivaled as a chariot fighter ; na — not ; trātum — to save ; śaknuvanti — were able ; yat — inasmuch ; tat — thus ; katham — why ; nu — indeed ; bhavān — you ; karma — feat ; duṣkaram — impossible to be performed ; jagat — of the universe ; īśvaraiḥ — by the Lords ; tvam — you ; cikīrṣasi — intend to do ; bāliśyāt — out of naivete ; tat — therefore ; na śraddadhmahe — do not believe ; vayam — we .

Translation

The brāhmaṇa said: Neither Saṅkarṣaṇa; Vāsudeva; Pradyumna, the best of bowmen; nor the unequaled warrior Aniruddha could save my sons. Then why do you naively attempt a feat that the almighty Lords of the universe could not perform? We cannot take you seriously.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The brāhmaṇa said: Neither Saṅkarṣaṇa; Vāsudeva; Pradyumna, the best of bowmen; nor the unequaled warrior Aniruddha could save my sons. Then why do you naively attempt a feat that the almighty Lords of the universe could not perform? We cannot take you seriously. KB 10.89.30-31 Upon hearing Arjuna speak in this way, the brāhmaṇa replied, “My dear Arjuna, Lord Balarāma is present, but He could not give protection to my children. Lord Kṛṣṇa is also present, but He also could not give them protection. There are also many other heroes, such as Pradyumna and Aniruddha, carrying bows and arrows, but they could not protect my children.” The brāhmaṇa directly hinted that Arjuna could not do that which was impossible for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He felt that Arjuna was promising something beyond his power. The brāhmaṇa said, “I consider your promise to be like that of an inexperienced child. I cannot put my faith in your promise.”

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

"We do not believe this (na sraddadhmahe)."

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

By giving descriptive phrases along with Pradyumna and Aniruddha, he indicates that all four were similar in strength. That they were not enthusiastic to destroy obstacles in protecting my children is my bad karma created by the rules of the universe. How can you protect the children? Therefore you are attempting this out of foolishness. I do not believe you.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Saṅkarṣaṇa is he who attractes or pulls all hearts by his glories. Vāsudeva is he who was born from Vasudeva to manifest his unlimited powers. Because they are famous, their glories are not further described. Pradyumna is described: he is the best among bowmen. Aniruddha had no equal in battle (aprati-rathaḥ). Or the two adjectives can describe all four persons. They could not save my children (yat). How can you out of foolishness (bāliśyāt) desire to do this activity of saving my sons (tat), which even the Lords of the universe can do? Nu indicates surprise. He did not consider the matter carefully. Or what type of person are you (nu), to desire to do this activity? We (including his wife and others) cannot believe this. Or to indicate strongly lack of belief, he gives respect to himself (vayam).