Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.83.24
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesEven Great Skill Has Limits
“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.”
What the purport teaches
- Arjuna studied the fish’s reflection in the water and determined its position before shooting.
- Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Arjuna was a more expert marksman than the other kings.
- Yet his physical strength was not adequate for perfect accuracy. His arrow merely grazed the target rather than piercing it.
Try this today
When something proves difficult today, acknowledge one limit honestly rather than pretending you can do everything.
Ask yourself
How do you respond when careful effort and real skill are still not enough?
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.