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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 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished
1.7.13-141.7.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.12inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

माता शिशूनां निधनं सुतानां

निशम्य घोरं परितप्यमाना ।

तदारुदद्वाष्पकलाकुलाक्षी

तां सान्‍त्वयन्नाह किरीटमाली ॥ १५ ॥

mātā śiśūnāṁ nidhanaṁ sutānāṁ

niśamya ghoraṁ paritapyamānā

tadārudad vāṣpa-kalākulākṣī

tāṁ sāntvayann āha kirīṭamālī

Translation

Draupadī, the mother of the five children of the Pāṇḍavas, after hearing of the massacre of her sons, began to cry in distress with eyes full of tears. Trying to pacify her in her great loss, Arjuna spoke to her thus:

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Responding to Grief With Comfort

  1. 1

    Draupadī heard that her five sons had been massacred. The verse presents her distress as a mother facing a terrible loss.

  2. 2

    Her eyes filled with tears, and she began to cry. Her grief is openly acknowledged in the narration.

  3. 3

    Arjuna spoke to Draupadī, trying to pacify her in her great loss. His words were addressed to her suffering.

How it feels

Grief → Trust. Violence and bereavement make Kṛṣṇa's protective presence precious.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 1: Postwar anguish, Kuntī and Bhīṣma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished

Vyāsadeva compiles Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; Arjuna captures Aśvatthāmā, and Kṛṣṇa addresses the question of his punishment.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mātāthe mother
  2. śiśūnāmof the children
  3. nidhanammassacre
  4. sutānāmof the sons
  5. niśamyaafter hearing
  6. ghoramghastly
  7. paritapyamānālamenting
  8. tadāat that time
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”, “narration”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “mother”, “children”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “distress”, “suffering”

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

When someone is grieving, do I acknowledge their pain before trying to comfort them?

Practice

Offer a brief, gentle message of comfort to someone you know who is grieving.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayResponding to Grief With ComfortThis 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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