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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
1.7.321.7.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.29inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत आसाद्य तरसा दारुणं गौतमीसुतम् ।

बबन्धामर्षताम्राक्ष: पशुं रशनया यथा ॥ ३३ ॥

tata āsādya tarasā

dāruṇaṁ gautamī-sutam

babandhāmarṣa-tāmrākṣaḥ

paśuṁ raśanayā yathā

Translation

Arjuna, his eyes blazing in anger like two red balls of copper, dexterously arrested the son of Gautamī and bound him with ropes like an animal.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Conduct Matters More Than Birth

  1. 1

    Arjuna arrested the son of Gautamī and bound him with ropes like an animal. His eyes blazed with anger.

  2. 2

    Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that restraining him in this way was part of Arjuna's duty, or dharma.

  3. 3

    Aśvatthāmā was the son of Droṇācārya and Kṛpī, but his conduct had degraded his standing. His birth did not justify treating him as a brāhmaṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • The significant point in this śloka is that Aśvatthāmā was caught and bound up with ropes like an animal.
  • According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, Arjuna was obliged to catch this son of a brāhmaṇa like an animal as a part of his duty (dharma).
  • Aśvatthāmā was a bona fide son of Droṇācārya and Kṛpī, but because he had degraded himself to a lower status of life, it was proper to treat him as an animal and not as a brāhmaṇa.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereupon
  2. āsādyaarrested
  3. tarasādexterously
  4. dāruṇamdangerous
  5. gautamī-sutamthe son of Gautamī
  6. babandhabound up
  7. amarṣaangry
  8. tāmra-akṣaḥwith copper-red eyes
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “duty”, “dharma”

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 rely on my background or position instead of taking responsibility for my conduct?

Practice

Choose one duty today and carry it out carefully, without relying on your status or reputation.

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 todayConduct Matters More Than BirthThis 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 1.7.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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