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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
1.7.551.7.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.56

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.55inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

विमुच्य रशनाबद्धं बालहत्याहतप्रभम् ।

तेजसा मणिना हीनं शिबिरान्निरयापयत् ॥ ५६ ॥

vimucya raśanā-baddhaṁ

bāla-hatyā-hata-prabham

tejasā maṇinā hīnaṁ

śibirān nirayāpayat

Translation

He [Aśvatthāmā] had already lost his bodily luster due to infanticide, and now, moreover, having lost the jewel from his head, he lost even more strength. Thus he was unbound and driven out of the camp.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Punished Yet Left Alive

  1. 1

    Aśvatthāmā had already lost his bodily luster because he had killed children.

  2. 2

    Losing the jewel from his head further reduced his strength. He was then released from his bonds and driven out of the camp.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that, through the intelligence of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, the humiliated Aśvatthāmā was simultaneously killed and not killed.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus being insulted, the humiliated Aśvatthāmā was simultaneously killed and not killed by the intelligence of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.

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. vimucyaafter releasing him
  2. raśanā-baddhamfrom the bondage of ropes
  3. bāla-hatyāinfanticide
  4. hata-prabhamloss of bodily luster
  5. tejasāof the strength of
  6. maṇināby the jewel
  7. hīnambeing deprived of
  8. śibirātfrom the camp
  9. nirayāpayatdrove him out
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “infanticide”, “children”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “luster”

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 does this outcome show that sparing someone’s life need not remove the consequences of wrongdoing?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining how Aśvatthāmā was punished without losing his life.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPunished Yet Left AliveThis 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 1.7.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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