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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 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved
1.8.501.8.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.51

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.8.48inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स्त्रीणां मद्धतबन्धूनां द्रोहो योऽसाविहोत्थित: ।

कर्मभिर्गृहमेधीयैर्नाहं कल्पो व्यपोहितुम् ॥ ५१ ॥

strīṇāṁ mad-dhata-bandhūnāṁ

droho yo ’sāv ihotthitaḥ

karmabhir gṛhamedhīyair

nāhaṁ kalpo vyapohitum

Translation

I have killed many friends of women, and I have thus caused enmity to such an extent that it is not possible to undo it by material welfare work.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Work for the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Material welfare work cannot undo the enmity caused by killing loved ones. Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja feels that even great sacrifices cannot counteract this growing chain of actions and reactions.

  2. 2

    Work done for material interests creates further actions and reactions, binding the performer in material bondage. The remedy is to work on behalf of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The Pāṇḍavas carried out the Lord’s orders, so no sin touched them. Those who declare war for personal interest bear the responsibility themselves.

Key points from the purport
  • The gṛhamedhīs are those whose only business is to perform welfare work for the sake of material prosperity.
  • Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja performed this aśvamedha-yajña, but he thinks that even by performing such yajñas it is not possible to get relief from the great sins committed.
  • And when they are killed, a fresh enmity is created, and thus a chain of actions and reactions increases which is not possible to be counteracted even by thousands of aśvamedha-yajñas.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.8.51 quotesBG 9.27

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.27-28) the remedy is suggested that such actions and reactions of the path of work can be checked only when work is done on behalf of the Supreme Lord.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. strīṇāmof the women
  2. matby me
  3. hata-bandhūnāmof the friends who are killed
  4. drohaḥenmity
  5. yaḥthat
  6. asauall those
  7. ihaherewith
  8. utthitaḥhas accrued
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “friends”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

In my work, am I seeking only material prosperity, or seeking to serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before one duty today, pause and consider how to perform it as service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa rather than merely for personal gain.

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 todayWork for the Supreme LordThis 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.

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