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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
1.7.411.7.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.42

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.42inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तथाहृतं पशुवत् पाशबद्ध-

मवाङ्‍मुखं कर्मजुगुप्सितेन ।

निरीक्ष्य कृष्णापकृतं गुरो: सुतं

वामस्वभावा कृपया ननाम च ॥ ४२ ॥

tathāhṛtaṁ paśuvat pāśa-baddham

avāṅ-mukhaṁ karma-jugupsitena

nirīkṣya kṛṣṇāpakṛtaṁ guroḥ sutaṁ

vāma-svabhāvā kṛpayā nanāma ca

Translation

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: Draupadī then saw Aśvatthāmā, who was bound with ropes like an animal and silent for having enacted the most inglorious murder. Due to her female nature, and due to her being naturally good and well-behaved, she showed him due respects as a brāhmaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Be Gentle Without Giving Up Discernment

  1. 1

    Although grieving for her sons, Draupadī offered respect to Aśvatthāmā as the son of a brāhmaṇa. Her natural courtesy remained even before their murderer.

  2. 2

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa had condemned Aśvatthāmā, whose actions showed him to be an unworthy son of Droṇācārya.

  3. 3

    The purport cautions that gentleness should not make us give up reason and discrimination. Respectful treatment does not establish someone as a genuine brāhmaṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Aśvatthāmā was condemned by the Lord Himself, and he was treated by Arjuna just like a culprit, not like the son of a brāhmaṇa or teacher.
  • Aśvatthāmā proved himself to be an unworthy son of Droṇācārya or of a brāhmaṇa, and for this reason he was condemned by the greatest authority, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and yet a mild woman could not withdraw her natural courtesy for a brāhmaṇa.
  • Aśvatthāmā may be respected by a good-natured woman, but that does not mean that he is as good as a genuine 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. tathāthus
  2. āhṛtambrought in
  3. paśu-vatlike an animal
  4. pāśa-baddhamtied with ropes
  5. avāk-mukhamwithout a word in his mouth
  6. karmaactivities
  7. jugupsitenabeing heinous
  8. nirīkṣyaby seeing
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “give up”

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

Can I remain courteous while still recognizing conduct that is wrong?

Practice

In one interaction today, keep your words gentle while assessing the person's actions honestly.

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 · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayBe Gentle Without Giving Up DiscernmentThis 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 1.7.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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