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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
1.7.381.7.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.39

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

तदसौ वध्यतां पाप आतताय्यात्मबन्धुहा ।

भर्तुश्च विप्रियं वीर कृतवान् कुलपांसन: ॥ ३९ ॥

tad asau vadhyatāṁ pāpa

ātatāyy ātma-bandhu-hā

bhartuś ca vipriyaṁ vīra

kṛtavān kula-pāṁsanaḥ

Translation

This man is an assassin and murderer of your own family members. Not only that, but he has also dissatisfied his master. He is but the burnt remnants of his family. Kill him immediately.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honored Birth Does Not Excuse Wrongdoing

  1. 1

    Droṇācārya remained respected by the Pāṇḍavas even though he joined the enemy camp. Arjuna saluted him before the fight.

  2. 2

    Aśvatthāmā degraded himself by killing Draupadī's five sleeping sons. Even his master Duryodhana disapproved of this heinous act.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa reminded Arjuna that such an assaulter was liable to punishment. Aśvatthāmā's respected family did not excuse his conduct.

Key points from the purport
  • The son of Droṇācārya is condemned here as the burnt remnants of his family.
  • Aśvatthāmā, the son of Droṇācārya, committed murder by killing the five sleeping sons of Draupadī, by which he dissatisfied his master Duryodhana, who never approved of the heinous act of killing the five sleeping sons of the Pāṇḍavas.
  • This means that Aśvatthāmā became an assaulter of Arjuna’s own family members, and thus he was liable to be punished by him.

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. tattherefore
  2. asauthis man
  3. vadhyatāmwill be killed
  4. pāpaḥthe sinner
  5. ātatāyīassaulter
  6. ātmaown
  7. bandhu-hākiller of sons
  8. bhartuḥof the master
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

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 judge conduct honestly, even when someone has a respected family or position?

Practice

Examine one judgment you have made about someone, separating their conduct from their family 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 todayHonored Birth Does Not Excuse WrongdoingThis 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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