Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.15.7
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionSuccess Through Kṛṣṇa’s Merciful Strength
“Only by His merciful strength was I able to vanquish all the lusty princes assembled at the palace of King Drupada for the selection of the bridegroom. With my bow and arrow I could pierce the fish target and thereby gain the hand of Draupadī.”
What the purport teaches
- King Drupada arranged a difficult test to select Draupadī’s husband. The archer had to pierce the fish’s eyes through a protective wheel while looking only at its reflection in water.
- Arjuna, dressed as a poor brāhmaṇa, pierced the target and astonished the assembly. By Lord Kṛṣṇa’s grace, he also succeeded in the fight that followed and gained Draupadī’s hand.
- In the Lord’s absence, Arjuna remembered this incident with grief. He recognized that only Kṛṣṇa’s strength had made him so powerful.
Try this today
Recall one success today and offer thanks to Lord Kṛṣṇa rather than dwelling only on your own ability.
Ask yourself
What can Arjuna’s remembrance teach you about taking credit for success?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.