SB 4.10.9

TEXT 9

TEXT

ते वै ललाटलग्नैस्तैर् इषुभिः सर्व एव हि ।
मत्वा निरस्तमात्मानम् आशंसन्कर्म तस्य तत् ॥ ९ ॥

te vai lalata-lagnais tair

isubhih sarva eva hi

matva nirastam atmanam

asamsan karma tasya tat

te-they; vai-certainly; lalata-lagnaih-intent upon their heads; taih-by those; isubhih-arrows; sarve-all of them; eva-certainly; hi-without fail; matva-thinking; nirastam-defeated; atmanam-themselves; asamsan-praised; karma-action; tasya-of him; tat-that.

TRANSLATION

When the heroes of the Yaksas saw that all their heads were being thus threatened by Dhruva Maharaja, they could very easily understand their awkward position, and they concluded that they would certainly be defeated. But, as heroes, they lauded the action of Dhruva.

PURPORT

This spirit of fighting in a sporting attitude is very significant in this verse. The Yaksas were severely attacked. Dhruva Maharaja was their enemy, but still upon witnessing the wonderful heroic action of Maharaja Dhruva, they were very pleased with him. This straightforward appreciation of an enemy's prowess is a characteristic of real ksatriya spirit.