SB 1.9.37 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 37
Swanigama apahaya matpratijnam Ritam adhikartum avapluta rathasthah Dhrita ratha charana abhyat chaladgur Hari eva hantumibham gatottariyah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Swonigama—own truthfulness, Apahaya—for nullifying, Matpratijna—my own promise, Ritam—factual, Adhi—more, Kartum—for doing it, Avapluta—getting down, Rathastha—from the chariot, Dhrita—taking up, Ratha—chariot, Charana—wheel, Abhyat—went hurriedly, Chaladgur—trampling over the earth, Hari—lion, Eva—like, Hantum—to kill, Ibham—elephant, Gato—leaving aside, Uttariyah—covering cloth.
TRANSLATION
Justifying my promise and nullifying His own truthfulness, He got down from the chariot and took up the wheel of it to run unto me hurriedly just like the lion goes to kill an elephant and thus He left His outer cloth on the way.
PURPORT
The battle of Kurukshetra was fought just on millitary principles but at the same time in a sporting spirit like a friend fights with another friend. Duryodhan criticised Bhismadeva alleging that he was reluctant to kill Arjuna on account of filial affection. A kshatriya cannot tolerate insult on the principle of fighting. He, therefore, promised that the next day He would kill all the five Pandavas by special weapons made for the purpose. Duryodhan was satisfied and he kept the arrows with him to be delivered next day during the fight. By tricks Arjuna took away the arrows from Duryodhan and Bhismadeva could understand that it was the trick of Lord Krishna. So he took vow that next day Krishna would have to take weapons Himself otherwise His friend Arjuna would die. So in the next day's fighting Bhismadeva fought so violently that both Arjuna and Krishna were in trouble. Arjuna was almost defeated and the situation was so tense that he was going to be killed by Bhismadeva next moment. At that time Lord Krishna wanted to please His devotee Bhisma by keeping his promise more prominent than His own. Seemingly He broke His own promise. He promised before the beginning of the battle of Kurukshetra that He would remain without any weapon and would not use His strength for either of the parties. But this time to protect Arjuna He got down from the chariot took up the wheel of the chariot hurriedly went to Bhismadeva in angry mood like the lion goes to kill an elephant. He left His covering cloth on the way and out of great anger He did not know how He left His cloth. Bhismadeva at once gave up his weapons and stood for being killed by Krishna His beloved Lord. The fighting of the day was thus ended on that very moment and Arjuna was saved. Of course there was no possibility of Arjuna's death because the Lord Himself was on the chariot but because Bhismadeva wanted to see that Lord Krishna must take some weapon to save His friend, the Lord created such situation as if Arjuna's death was imminent and He stood before Bhismadeva to show him that his promise was fulfilled and He had taken up the wheeI.