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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
1.7.351.7.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.36

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 1.7.35inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

मत्तं प्रमत्तमुन्मत्तं सुप्तं बालं स्त्रियं जडम् ।

प्रपन्नं विरथं भीतं न रिपुं हन्ति धर्मवित् ॥ ३६ ॥

mattaṁ pramattam unmattaṁ

suptaṁ bālaṁ striyaṁ jaḍam

prapannaṁ virathaṁ bhītaṁ

na ripuṁ hanti dharma-vit

Translation

A person who knows the principles of religion does not kill an enemy who is careless, intoxicated, insane, asleep, afraid or devoid of his chariot. Nor does he kill a boy, a woman, a foolish creature or a surrendered soul.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religious Principles Restrain Violence

  1. 1

    A warrior who knows religious principles does not kill an enemy who does not resist. The translation includes those who are asleep, intoxicated, afraid or surrendered among those protected.

  2. 2

    The translation also forbids killing a boy, a woman, a foolish creature or an enemy deprived of his chariot. Enmity does not remove these restraints.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that battles were to follow religious principles, not sense gratification or political whims. It regards violence governed by those principles as superior to so-called nonviolence.

Key points from the purport
  • An enemy who does not resist is never killed by a warrior who knows the principles of religion.
  • If the enemy happened to be intoxicated, asleep, etc., as above mentioned, he was never to be killed.
  • Violence carried out on religious principles is far superior to so-called nonviolence.

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. mattamcareless
  2. pramattamintoxicated
  3. unmattaminsane
  4. suptamasleep
  5. bālamboy
  6. striyamwoman
  7. jaḍamfoolish
  8. prapannamsurrendered
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “religious”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “surrendered”

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

When I face opposition, do I still respect restraints that protect someone who is vulnerable?

Practice

In a disagreement today, pause before replying and do not take advantage of the other person's fear or inability to respond.

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 todayReligious Principles Restrain ViolenceThis 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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