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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely
1.15.61.15.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.7

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Arjunasince 1.15.5inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यत्संश्रयाद् द्रुपदगेहमुपागतानां

राज्ञां स्वयंवरमुखे स्मरदुर्मदानाम् ।

तेजो हृतं खलु मयाभिहतश्च मत्स्य:

सज्जीकृतेन धनुषाधिगता च कृष्णा ॥ ७ ॥

yat-saṁśrayād drupada-geham upāgatānāṁ

rājñāṁ svayaṁvara-mukhe smara-durmadānām

tejo hṛtaṁ khalu mayābhihataś ca matsyaḥ

sajjīkṛtena dhanuṣādhigatā ca kṛṣṇā

Translation

Only by His merciful strength was I able to vanquish all the lusty princes assembled at the palace of King Drupada for the selection of the bridegroom. With my bow and arrow I could pierce the fish target and thereby gain the hand of Draupadī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Success Through Kṛṣṇa’s Merciful Strength

  1. 1

    King Drupada arranged a difficult test to select Draupadī’s husband. The archer had to pierce the fish’s eyes through a protective wheel while looking only at its reflection in water.

  2. 2

    Arjuna, dressed as a poor brāhmaṇa, pierced the target and astonished the assembly. By Lord Kṛṣṇa’s grace, he also succeeded in the fight that followed and gained Draupadī’s hand.

  3. 3

    In the Lord’s absence, Arjuna remembered this incident with grief. He recognized that only Kṛṣṇa’s strength had made him so powerful.

Key points from the purport
  • Draupadī was the most beautiful daughter of King Drupada, and when she was a young girl almost all the princes desired her hand.
  • But Drupada Mahārāja decided to hand over his daughter to Arjuna only and therefore contrived a peculiar way.
  • When Arjuna, in the dress of a poor brāhmaṇa, pierced the difficult target, everyone was astonished, and all of them, especially Karṇa, offered a stiff fight to Arjuna, but as usual by the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa he was able to emerge very successful in the princely fight and thus gain the valuable hand of Kṛṣṇā, or Draupadī.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Bereavement → Renunciation. The worldly support system recedes and attachment is exposed.

Chapters 13–15 of Canto 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra departs; Kṛṣṇa disappears; Pāṇḍavas retire. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely

Arjuna grieves over Kṛṣṇa’s departure, and the Pāṇḍavas retire, fixing their minds on His lotus feet.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatby whose merciful
  2. saṁśrayātby strength
  3. drupada-gehamin the palace of King Drupada
  4. upāgatānāmall those assembled
  5. rājñāmof the princes
  6. svayaṁvara-mukheon the occasion of the selection of the bridegroom
  7. smara-durmadānāmall lusty in thought
  8. tejaḥpower
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “merciful”, “grace”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “lusty”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can Arjuna’s remembrance teach you about taking credit for success?

Practice

Recall one success today and offer thanks to Lord Kṛṣṇa rather than dwelling only on your own ability.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySuccess Through Kṛṣṇa’s Merciful StrengthThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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