Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.50.25-28
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOverwhelming Armies Are Play for the Lords
“On the battlefield, hundreds of rivers of blood flowed from the limbs of the humans, elephants and horses who had been cut to pieces. In these rivers arms resembled snakes; human heads, turtles; dead elephants, islands; and dead horses, crocodiles. Hands and thighs appeared like fish, human hair like waterweeds, bows like waves, and various weapons like clumps of bushes. The rivers of blood teemed with all of these.”
What the purport teaches
- The battlefield is described as rivers of blood, with fallen bodies and weapons resembling creatures, islands and waves.
- The immeasurably powerful Lord Balarāma destroyed Magadhendra’s military force with His plow weapon.
- Although the army was as fearsome as an impassable ocean, the battle was hardly more than play for the two sons of Vasudeva, the Lords of the universe.
Try this today
Spend a minute remembering the Lords’ immeasurable power as described in this passage.
Ask yourself
How does the contrast between the fearsome army and the Lords’ ease shape your understanding of Their power?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.