Text 21] The Pandavas Retire Timely 797

curved manner. The daughters of the demigods could not check their
laughter upon seeing the movements of the Muni, and the Muni, being
angry at them, cursed them that they would be kidnapped by rogues, even
if they would get the Lord as their husband. Later on, the girls again
satisfied the Muni by their prayers, and the Muni blessed them that they
would regain their husband even after being robbed by the rogues. So, in
order to keep the words of the great Muni, the Lord Himself kidnapped
His wives from the protection of Arjuna, otherwise they would have at
once vanished from the scene as soon as they were touched by the
rogues. Besides that, some of the gopis who prayed to become wives of the
Lord returned to their respective positions after their desire was fulfilled.
After the departure of Lord Krsna, He wanted all His entourage back to
Godhead, and they were called back under different conditions only.

TEXT 21

ae VaR ETT: AT eT
TSE TH TIAA Ta araated |
wi aa acqeactatta
WAY Sd FERS (AAT ATTEAT 1122

tad vai dhanus ta isavah sa ratho hayas te
so *ham rathi nrpatayo yata anamanti
sarvam ksanena tad abhud asad iSa-riktam
bhasman hutam kuhaka-raddham ivoptam usyam

tat—the same; vai—certainly; dhanuh te—the same bow; isavah—arrows;
sa—the very same; rathah—chariot; hayah te—the very same horses; sah
aham—I am the same Arjuna; rathi—the chariot-fighter; nrpatayah—all the
kings; yatah— whom; dnamanti— offered their respects; sarvam—all; ksapena
—at a moment’s notice; tat—all those; abhiit—became; asat—useless; iga—
because of the Lord; riktam—being void ; bhasmam—ashes; hutam— offering
butter; kuhaka-raddham—money created by magical feats; iva—like that;
uptam—seed; isyam—in barren land.

TRANSLATION

I have the very same Gandiva bow, the same arrows, the same chariot
drawn by the same horses, and I use them as the same Arjuna to whom all
