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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 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved
1.8.491.8.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.50

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.8.48inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

नैनो राज्ञ: प्रजाभर्तुर्धर्मयुद्धे वधो द्विषाम् ।

इति मे न तु बोधाय कल्पते शासनं वच: ॥ ५० ॥

naino rājñaḥ prajā-bhartur

dharma-yuddhe vadho dviṣām

iti me na tu bodhāya

kalpate śāsanaṁ vacaḥ

Translation

There is no sin for a king who kills for the right cause, who is engaged in maintaining his citizens. But this injunction is not applicable to me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Examine Personal Gain Behind Duty

  1. 1

    A king protecting his citizens incurs no sin by killing in a fight for the right cause. Yet Yudhiṣṭhira felt that this injunction did not apply to him.

  2. 2

    He considered that Duryodhana had been administering the kingdom without harming its citizens. He therefore thought the battle had been fought for his personal gain rather than their protection.

  3. 3

    Seeing the killing as an attempt to advance himself, Yudhiṣṭhira held himself responsible for the sins. The permission given to a protecting ruler brought him no satisfaction.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira thought that although he was not actually involved in the administration of the kingdom, which was being carried on well by Duryodhana without harm to the citizens, he caused the killing of so many living beings only for his personal gain of the kingdom from the hands of Duryodhana.
  • The killing was committed not in the course of administration but for the sake of self-aggrandizement, and as such he thought himself responsible for all the sins.

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 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved

Kṛṣṇa protects Parīkṣit, Kuntī prays for undivided attraction to Him, and Yudhiṣṭhira grieves.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanever
  2. enaḥsins
  3. rājñaḥof the king
  4. prajā-bhartuḥof one who is engaged in the maintenance of the citizens
  5. dharmafor the right cause
  6. yuddhein the fight
  7. vadhaḥkilling
  8. dviṣāmof the enemies
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”, “ruler”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “protecting”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “sins”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I calling something a duty when my real motive is personal gain?

Practice

Before one decision today, write down whether your main aim is others’ welfare or your own advantage.

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 todayExamine Personal Gain Behind DutyThis 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 1.8.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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