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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
1.7.53-541.7.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.55

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.55inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

अर्जुन: सहसाज्ञाय हरेर्हार्दमथासिना ।

मणिं जहार मूर्धन्यं द्विजस्य सहमूर्धजम् ॥ ५५ ॥

sūta uvāca

arjunaḥ sahasājñāya

harer hārdam athāsinā

maṇiṁ jahāra mūrdhanyaṁ

dvijasya saha-mūrdhajam

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Just then Arjuna could understand the motive of the Lord by His equivocal orders, and thus with his sword he severed both hair and jewel from the head of Aśvatthāmā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Intelligence in Understanding the Lord’s Intention

  1. 1

    Arjuna understood the Lord’s intention through His apparently conflicting orders. With his sword, he removed Aśvatthāmā’s hair and jewel.

  2. 2

    Contradictory orders could not all be carried out literally, so Arjuna used his sharp intelligence to choose a compromise. This was as good as cutting off Aśvatthāmā’s head, while preserving his life.

  3. 3

    Aśvatthāmā was twice-born, but he had fallen from that position. Therefore, he was properly punished.

Key points from the purport
  • Contradictory orders of different persons are impossible to carry out.
  • Therefore a compromise was selected by Arjuna by his sharp intelligence, and he separated the jewel from the head of Aśvatthāmā.
  • Certainly he was twice-born, but he fell down from his position, and therefore he was properly punished.

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. sūtaḥSūta Gosvāmī
  2. uvācasaid
  3. arjunaḥArjuna
  4. sahasājust at that time
  5. ājñāyaknowing it
  6. hareḥof the Lord
  7. hārdammotive
  8. athathus
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Do I look carefully for the intention behind guidance, rather than stopping at an apparent contradiction?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s orders and Arjuna’s response today, noting how Arjuna preserved life while carrying out punishment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIntelligence in Understanding the Lord’s IntentionThis 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 1.7.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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