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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
1.7.521.7.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 1.7.53-54

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇasince 1.7.53-54inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

श्रीभगवानुवाच

ब्रह्मबन्धुर्न हन्तव्य आततायी वधार्हण: ।

मयैवोभयमाम्नातं परिपाह्यनुशासनम् ॥ ५३ ॥

कुरु प्रतिश्रुतं सत्यं यत्तत्सान्‍त्वयता प्रियाम् ।

प्रियं च भीमसेनस्य पाञ्चाल्या मह्यमेव च ॥ ५४ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

brahma-bandhur na hantavya

ātatāyī vadhārhaṇaḥ

mayaivobhayam āmnātaṁ

paripāhy anuśāsanam

kuru pratiśrutaṁ satyaṁ

yat tat sāntvayatā priyām

priyaṁ ca bhīmasenasya

pāñcālyā mahyam eva ca

Translation

The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: A friend of a brāhmaṇa is not to be killed, but if he is an aggressor he must be killed. All these rulings are in the scriptures, and you should act accordingly. You have to fulfill your promise to your wife, and you must also act to the satisfaction of Bhīmasena and Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Guides Through Conflicting Duties

  1. 1

    Arjuna faced conflicting scriptural rulings: Aśvatthāmā was not to be killed as a brahma-bandhu, an unworthy son of a brāhmaṇa, yet an aggressor was liable to be killed.

  2. 2

    Although Aśvatthāmā was an aggressor, he stood without fighting weapons. The purport explains that an aggressor without a weapon or chariot cannot be killed.

  3. 3

    Arjuna also had to fulfill his promise to Draupadī and satisfy Bhīma and Kṛṣṇa. The solution to this dilemma was provided by Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Arjuna was perplexed because Aśvatthāmā was to be killed as well as spared according to different scriptures cited by different persons.
  • As a brahma-bandhu, or a worthless son of a brāhmaṇa, Aśvatthāmā was not to be killed, but he was at the same time an aggressor also.
  • And according to the rulings of Manu, an aggressor, even though he be a brāhmaṇa (and what to speak of an unworthy son of a brāhmaṇa), is to be killed.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  2. uvācasaid
  3. brahma-bandhuḥthe relative of a brāhmaṇa
  4. nanot
  5. hantavyaḥto be killed
  6. ātatāyīthe aggressor
  7. vadha-arhaṇaḥis due to be killed
  8. mayāby Me
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “friend”

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 duties seem to conflict, do I carefully consider all the obligations involved?

Practice

Write down the different obligations in one difficult decision before taking action today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Guides Through Conflicting DutiesThis 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 1.7.53-54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.