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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
1.7.501.7.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.51

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

तत्राहामर्षितो भीमस्तस्य श्रेयान् वध: स्मृत: ।

न भर्तुर्नात्मनश्चार्थे योऽहन् सुप्तान् शिशून् वृथा ॥ ५१ ॥

tatrāhāmarṣito bhīmas

tasya śreyān vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ

na bhartur nātmanaś cārthe

yo ’han suptān śiśūn vṛthā

Translation

Bhīma, however, angrily disagreed with them and recommended killing this culprit, who had murdered sleeping children for no purpose and for neither his nor his master’s interest.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhīma Condemns the Killing of Children

  1. 1

    Bhīma angrily disagreed with the others and recommended killing the culprit.

  2. 2

    The culprit had murdered sleeping children, who were unable to defend themselves.

  3. 3

    Bhīma stated that the murders served no purpose, benefiting neither the culprit nor his master.

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. tatrathereupon
  2. āhasaid
  3. amarṣitaḥin an angry mood
  4. bhīmaḥBhīma
  5. tasyahis
  6. śreyānultimate good
  7. vadhaḥkilling
  8. smṛtaḥrecorded
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “children”

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 I feel anger at wrongdoing, can I clearly identify the harm rather than speak from anger alone?

Practice

If wrongdoing angers you today, pause and describe the actual harm in one clear sentence before responding.

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 todayBhīma Condemns the Killing of ChildrenThis 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 1.7.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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