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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
1.7.471.7.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.48

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

यै: कोपितं ब्रह्मकुलं राजन्यैरजितात्मभि: ।

तत् कुलं प्रदहत्याशु सानुबन्धं शुचार्पितम् ॥ ४८ ॥

yaiḥ kopitaṁ brahma-kulaṁ

rājanyair ajitātmabhiḥ

tat kulaṁ pradahaty āśu

sānubandhaṁ śucārpitam

Translation

If the kingly administrative order, being unrestricted in sense control, offends the brāhmaṇa order and enrages them, then the fire of that rage burns up the whole body of the royal family and brings grief upon them all.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Self-Control and Respect for Spiritual Advancement

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa order, the spiritually advanced community, was held in great esteem by the other orders of society.

  2. 2

    The verse warns that rulers without sense control may offend and enrage the brāhmaṇas.

  3. 3

    The consequences of such offenses bring grief upon the whole royal family, not only the offender.

Key points from the purport
  • The brāhmaṇa order of society, or the spiritually advanced caste or community, and the members of such highly elevated families, were always held in great esteem by the other, subordinate castes, namely the administrative kingly order, the mercantile order and the laborers.

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. yaiḥby those
  2. kopitamenraged
  3. brahma-kulamthe order of the brāhmaṇas
  4. rājanyaiḥby the administrative order
  5. ajitaunrestricted
  6. ātmabhiḥby oneself
  7. tatthat
  8. kulamfamily
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “kingly”, “administrative”, “rulers”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “offends”, “offenses”, “offend”

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 might a lack of self-control affect both my conduct and those around me?

Practice

Pause before one difficult conversation today and choose words that show restraint and respect.

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 todaySelf-Control and Respect for Spiritual AdvancementThis 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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