Devanagari
स तदा लब्धतीर्थोऽपि न बबाधे निरायुधम् ।
मानयन् स मृधे धर्मं विष्वक्सेनं प्रकोपयन् ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
sa tadā labdha-tīrtho ’pi
na babādhe nirāyudham
mānayan sa mṛdhe dharmaṁ
viṣvaksenaṁ prakopayan
Synonyms
saḥ
—
that Hiraṇyākṣa
;
tadā
—
then
;
labdha
—
tīrthaḥ — having gained an excellent opportunity
;
api
—
although
;
na
—
not
;
babādhe
—
attacked
;
nirāyudham
—
having no weapon
;
mānayan
—
respecting
;
saḥ
—
Hiraṇyākṣa
;
mṛdhe
—
in battle
;
dharmam
—
the code of combat
;
viṣvaksenam
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
;
prakopayan
—
making angry .
Translation
Even though the demon had an excellent opportunity to strike his unarmed foe without obstruction, he respected the law of single combat, thereby kindling the fury of the Supreme Lord.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Though the demon now had the opportunity, he did not strike the Lord who was without a weapon. He respected the rules of fighting and made the Lord angry by this.
Though the demon had the opportunity he did not strike the Lord. The reason is given. He accepted the rules of fighting. He made the Lord angry by this. “Because you know that I am in trouble, by making my club fall by the strength of your arms, you display your sense of dharma, and do not strike me. See! In a moment’s time, I will take the club along with your life!”