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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
1.7.161.7.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.17

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

इति प्रियां वल्गुविचित्रजल्पै:

स सान्‍त्वयित्वाच्युतमित्रसूत: ।

अन्वाद्रवद्दंशित उग्रधन्वा

कपिध्वजो गुरुपुत्रं रथेन ॥ १७ ॥

iti priyāṁ valgu-vicitra-jalpaiḥ

sa sāntvayitvācyuta-mitra-sūtaḥ

anvādravad daṁśita ugra-dhanvā

kapi-dhvajo guru-putraṁ rathena

Translation

Arjuna, who is guided by the infallible Lord as friend and driver, thus satisfied the dear lady by such statements. Then he dressed in armor and armed himself with furious weapons, and getting into his chariot, he set out to follow Aśvatthāmā, the son of his martial teacher.

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.

Acting Under the Infallible Lord’s Guidance

  1. 1

    Arjuna is guided by the infallible Lord, who serves as his friend and driver.

  2. 2

    Before setting out, Arjuna satisfies the dear lady with his words.

  3. 3

    Arjuna then puts on armor, takes his weapons and follows Aśvatthāmā, the son of his martial teacher.

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. itithus
  2. priyāmunto the dear
  3. valgusweet
  4. vicitravariegated
  5. jalpaiḥby statements
  6. saḥhe
  7. sāntvayitvāsatisfying
  8. acyuta-mitra-sūtaḥArjuna, who is guided by the infallible Lord as a friend and driver
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “friend”

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

How can Arjuna’s confidence in the Lord’s guidance inform the way I face a difficult task?

Practice

Before one difficult task today, pause to remember the infallible Lord’s guidance.

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.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayActing Under the Infallible Lord’s GuidanceThis 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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