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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished
1.7.481.7.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.49

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.49inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

धर्म्यं न्याय्यं सकरुणं निर्व्यलीकं समं महत् ।

राजा धर्मसुतो राज्ञ्या: प्रत्यनन्दद्वचो द्विजा: ॥ ४९ ॥

sūta uvāca

dharmyaṁ nyāyyaṁ sakaruṇaṁ

nirvyalīkaṁ samaṁ mahat

rājā dharma-suto rājñyāḥ

pratyanandad vaco dvijāḥ

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: O brāhmaṇas, King Yudhiṣṭhira fully supported the statements of the Queen, which were in accordance with the principles of religion and were justified, glorious, full of mercy and equity, and without duplicity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Justice Joined with Gratitude and Mercy

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira supported Draupadī’s request to release Aśvatthāmā. Her words upheld religion, justice, mercy and equality without duplicity.

  2. 2

    Arjuna and his family were indebted to Droṇācārya for teaching Arjuna military science. Ingratitude toward such a benevolent family would not be morally justified.

  3. 3

    Draupadī understood Kṛpī’s grief through her own experience as a mother. Her appeal showed compassion, informed judgment and proper respect for a great family.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, who was the son of Dharmarāja, or Yamarāja, fully supported the words of Queen Draupadī in asking Arjuna to release Aśvatthāmā.
  • One should not tolerate the humiliation of a member of a great family.
  • And it was glorious because she wanted to show proper respect to a great family.

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. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. dharmyamin accordance with the principles of religion
  3. nyāyyamjustice
  4. sa-karuṇamfull of mercy
  5. nirvyalīkamwithout duplicity in dharma
  6. samamequity
  7. mahatglorious
  8. rājāthe King
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”, “principles”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “king”

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 judging someone’s conduct, do I also remember gratitude and the suffering of others?

Practice

Thank one person today whose teaching or kindness has benefited 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 todayJustice Joined with Gratitude and MercyThis 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 1.7.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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