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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.7.71.7.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स संहितां भागवतीं कृत्वानुक्रम्य चात्मजम् ।

शुकमध्यापयामास निवृत्तिनिरतं मुनि: ॥ ८ ॥

sa saṁhitāṁ bhāgavatīṁ

kṛtvānukramya cātma-jam

śukam adhyāpayām āsa

nivṛtti-nirataṁ muniḥ

Translation

The great sage Vyāsadeva, after compiling the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and revising it, taught it to his own son, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was already engaged in self-realization.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing Bhāgavatam Begins Self-Realization

  1. 1

    After compiling and revising Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Vyāsadeva taught it to his son, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was already liberated.

  2. 2

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the natural commentary on the Brahma-sūtras by the same author. Simply hearing its topics engages one in the path of self-realization.

  3. 3

    Although especially meant for those fully engaged in self-realization, it also reaches worldly hearts. Its purpose is to cure the materialistic disease and completely stop the pains of material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is so made that one becomes at once engaged in the path of self-realization simply by hearing the topics.
  • Therefore, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was compiled not less than five thousand years ago.
  • Mahābhārata was compiled before Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the Purāṇas were compiled before Mahābhārata.

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. saḥthat
  2. saṁhitāmVedic literature
  3. bhāgavatīmin relation with the Personality of Godhead
  4. kṛtvāhaving done
  5. anukramyaby correction and repetition
  6. caand
  7. ātma-jamhis own son
  8. śukamŚukadeva Gosvāmī
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 might hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam help me turn from sense gratification toward self-realization?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading this passage aloud and listening attentively.

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 todayHearing Bhāgavatam Begins Self-RealizationThis 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 1.7.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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