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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished
1.7.421.7.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.43

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

उवाच चासहन्त्यस्य बन्धनानयनं सती ।

मुच्यतां मुच्यतामेष ब्राह्मणो नितरां गुरु: ॥ ४३ ॥

uvāca cāsahanty asya

bandhanānayanaṁ satī

mucyatāṁ mucyatām eṣa

brāhmaṇo nitarāṁ guruḥ

Translation

She could not tolerate Aśvatthāmā’s being bound by ropes, and being a devoted lady, she said: Release him, release him, for he is a brāhmaṇa, our spiritual master.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize Qualification and Remain Compassionate

  1. 1

    Draupadī could not tolerate seeing her teacher's son bound like a culprit and asked for his release. Her response followed customary respect for the teacher's family.

  2. 2

    A brāhmaṇa is recognized by qualification, not simply by birth. A spiritual master who proves unworthy of the position is liable to be rejected.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee can tolerate personal suffering yet remain kind even to an enemy. The purport recognizes this good sentiment in Draupadī.

Key points from the purport
  • As soon as Aśvatthāmā was brought before Draupadī, she thought it intolerable that a brāhmaṇa should be arrested like a culprit and brought before her in that condition, especially when the brāhmaṇa happened to be a teacher’s son.
  • Kṛṣṇa also knew him to be so, but both of them condemned the murderer without consideration of his being the son of a brāhmaṇa.
  • Aśvatthāmā failed to discharge the duties of a brāhmaṇa or teacher, and therefore he was liable to be rejected from the exalted position of a 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. uvācasaid
  2. caand
  3. asahantībeing unbearable for her
  4. asyahis
  5. bandhanabeing bound
  6. ānayanambringing him
  7. satīthe devoted
  8. mucyatām mucyatāmjust get him released
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

How can I combine clear judgment of someone's qualifications with kindness toward them?

Practice

Avoid one unkind remark today about someone who has hurt or disappointed you.

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 todayRecognize Qualification and Remain CompassionateThis 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 1.7.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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