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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished
1.7.331.7.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.34

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

शिबिराय निनीषन्तं रज्ज्वा बद्ध्वा रिपुं बलात् ।

प्राहार्जुनं प्रकुपितो भगवानम्बुजेक्षण: ॥ ३४ ॥

śibirāya ninīṣantaṁ

rajjvā baddhvā ripuṁ balāt

prāhārjunaṁ prakupito

bhagavān ambujekṣaṇaḥ

Translation

After binding Aśvatthāmā, Arjuna wanted to take him to the military camp. The Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, looking on with His lotus eyes, spoke to Arjuna in an angry mood.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Anger Is Transcendental

  1. 1

    Both Arjuna and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared angry, but Arjuna's eyes were copper-red while the Lord's eyes remained lotuslike. Their anger was not on the same level.

  2. 2

    The Lord is absolute, and His anger does not arise from the modes of material nature. His anger and pleasure are therefore on the same transcendental level.

  3. 3

    His anger expresses His concern for His devotee, and even its object is blessed. The Lord remains unchanged in all circumstances.

Key points from the purport
  • Both Arjuna and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are described here in an angry mood, but Arjuna’s eyes were like balls of red copper whereas the eyes of the Lord were like lotuses.
  • This means that the angry mood of Arjuna and that of the Lord are not on the same level.
  • Therefore, even if He is angry, the object of anger is blessed.

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. śibirāyaon the way to the military camp
  2. ninīṣantamwhile bringing him
  3. rajjvāby the ropes
  4. baddhvābound up
  5. ripumthe enemy
  6. balātby force
  7. prāhasaid
  8. arjunamunto Arjuna
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “blessed”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I assuming that Kṛṣṇa’s emotions have the same limitations as my own?

Practice

Reread the description of the Lord's lotus eyes and reflect for a moment on how His anger differs from conditioned anger.

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 todayKṛṣṇa’s Anger Is TranscendentalThis 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 1.7.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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