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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
1.7.391.7.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.40

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.40inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

एवं परीक्षता धर्मं पार्थ: कृष्णेन चोदित: ।

नैच्छद्धन्तुं गुरुसुतं यद्यप्यात्महनं महान् ॥ ४० ॥

sūta uvāca

evaṁ parīkṣatā dharmaṁ

pārthaḥ kṛṣṇena coditaḥ

naicchad dhantuṁ guru-sutaṁ

yadyapy ātma-hanaṁ mahān

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Although Kṛṣṇa, who was examining Arjuna in religion, encouraged Arjuna to kill the son of Droṇācārya, Arjuna, a great soul, did not like the idea of killing him, although Aśvatthāmā was a heinous murderer of Arjuna’s family members.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord's Tests Reveal Devotees' Duty

  1. 1

    Arjuna did not wish to kill his teacher's son, even though that son had committed heinous acts. This showed Arjuna's greatness of heart.

  2. 2

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa outwardly encouraged the killing to test Arjuna's sense of duty. The Lord was not unaware of Arjuna's understanding.

  3. 3

    The Lord tests His pure devotees to magnify their sense of duty. Pure devotees come out successful in His tests.

Key points from the purport
  • Arjuna was a great soul undoubtedly, which is proved here also.
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa encouraged Arjuna outwardly just to test Arjuna’s sense of duty.
  • But Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa puts to the test many of His pure devotees just to magnify the sense of duty.

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. sūtaḥSūta Gosvāmī
  2. uvācasaid
  3. evamthis
  4. parīkṣatābeing examined
  5. dharmamin the matter of duty
  6. pārthaḥŚrī Arjuna
  7. kṛṣṇenaby Lord Kṛṣṇa
  8. coditaḥbeing encouraged
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”, “duty”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 duty feels difficult, how can I respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively?

Practice

Pause before responding to one difficult situation today and consider your duty carefully.

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.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.7's connections

Live this todayThe Lord's Tests Reveal Devotees' DutyThis 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 1.7.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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