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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.7.261.7.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.27

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 1.7.27inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

श्रीभगवानुवाच

वेत्थेदं द्रोणपुत्रस्य ब्राह्ममस्त्रं प्रदर्शितम् ।

नैवासौ वेद संहारं प्राणबाध उपस्थिते ॥ २७ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

vetthedaṁ droṇa-putrasya

brāhmam astraṁ pradarśitam

naivāsau veda saṁhāraṁ

prāṇa-bādha upasthite

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Know from Me that this is the act of the son of Droṇa. He has thrown the hymns of nuclear energy [brahmāstra], and he does not know how to retract the glare. He has helplessly done this, being afraid of imminent death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Knowledge Includes Knowing How to Retract

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead explained that the son of Droṇa had released the brahmāstra out of fear of imminent death. He did not know how to retract it.

  2. 2

    The purport describes the brahmāstra as a subtle material weapon produced by chanting hymns. Subtle material science is not spiritual science.

  3. 3

    Perfect knowledge included knowing both how to apply the weapon and how to retract it. Using it without this knowledge was improper and irreligious.

Key points from the purport
  • The brahmāstra is similar to the modern nuclear weapon manipulated by atomic energy.
  • The subtle science of chanting hymns is also material, but it has yet to be known by the modern material scientists.
  • But the son of Droṇācārya, who made use of this subtle science, did not know how to retract.

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. śrī-bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. uvācasaid
  3. vetthajust know from Me
  4. idamthis
  5. droṇa-putrasyaof the son of Droṇa
  6. brāhmam astramhymns of the brāhma (nuclear) weapon
  7. pradarśitamexhibited
  8. nanot
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”, “death”, “fear”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”

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

Before acting out of fear, do I consider whether I can control the consequences?

Practice

Before one consequential action today, pause and check whether you understand how to stop or correct it.

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 todayKnowledge Includes Knowing How to RetractThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 1.7.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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