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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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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
1.7.251.7.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Arjunasince 1.7.22inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

किमिदं स्वित्कुतो वेति देवदेव न वेद्‍म्यहम् ।

सर्वतोमुखमायाति तेज: परमदारुणम् ॥ २६ ॥

kim idaṁ svit kuto veti

deva-deva na vedmy aham

sarvato mukham āyāti

tejaḥ parama-dāruṇam

Translation

O Lord of lords, how is it that this dangerous effulgence is spreading all around? Where does it come from? I do not understand it.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Respectful Prayers Before Asking

  1. 1

    Arjuna asks the Lord of lords where the dangerous effulgence comes from.

  2. 2

    He openly admits that he does not understand what is spreading around him.

  3. 3

    Requests to the Personality of Godhead should follow respectful prayers. Although an intimate friend of the Lord, Arjuna observes this standard to teach others.

Key points from the purport
  • Anything that is presented before the Personality of Godhead should be so done after due presentation of respectful prayers.
  • That is the standard procedure, and Śrī Arjuna, although an intimate friend of the Lord, is observing this method for general information.

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat is
  2. idamthis
  3. svitdoes it come
  4. kutaḥwherefrom
  5. vā itibe either
  6. deva-devaO Lord of lords
  7. nanot
  8. vedmido I know
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “dangerous”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “understand”

  • 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

Do I approach the Lord with respect as well as openness about what I do not understand?

Practice

Begin today’s prayer with respectful praise before presenting a question or request.

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 todayOffer Respectful Prayers Before AskingThis 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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