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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.2.29-31

Who is speaking and story frame

विशीर्णरत्नकवचं विभ्रष्टाभरणस्रजम् ।

शरनिर्भिन्नहृदयं शयानमसृगाविलम् ॥ २९ ॥

प्रकीर्णकेशं ध्वस्ताक्षं रभसा दष्टदच्छदम् ।

रज:कुण्ठमुखाम्भोजं छिन्नायुधभुजं मृधे ॥ ३० ॥

उशीनरेन्द्रं विधिना तथा कृतं

पतिं महिष्य: प्रसमीक्ष्य दु:खिता: ।

हता: स्म नाथेति करैरुरो भृशं

घ्नन्त्यो मुहुस्तत्पदयोरुपापतन् ॥ ३१ ॥

viśīrṇa-ratna-kavacaṁ

vibhraṣṭābharaṇa-srajam

śara-nirbhinna-hṛdayaṁ

śayānam asṛg-āvilam

prakīrṇa-keśaṁ dhvastākṣaṁ

rabhasā daṣṭa-dacchadam

rajaḥ-kuṇṭha-mukhāmbhojaṁ

chinnāyudha-bhujaṁ mṛdhe

uśīnarendraṁ vidhinā tathā kṛtaṁ

patiṁ mahiṣyaḥ prasamīkṣya duḥkhitāḥ

hatāḥ sma nātheti karair uro bhṛśaṁ

ghnantyo muhus tat-padayor upāpatan

Translation

His golden, bejeweled armor smashed, his ornaments and garlands fallen from their places, his hair scattered and his eyes lusterless, the slain King lay on the battlefield, his entire body smeared with blood, his heart pierced by the arrows of the enemy. When he died he had wanted to show his prowess, and thus he had bitten his lips, and his teeth remained in that position. His beautiful lotuslike face was now black and covered with dust from the battlefield. His arms, with his sword and other weapons, were cut and broken. When the queens of the King of Uśīnara saw their husband lying in that position, they began crying, “O lord, now that you have been killed, we also have been killed.” Repeating these words again and again, they fell down, pounding their breasts, at the feet of the dead King.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Personal Power Is Not Supreme

  1. 1

    The king’s armor, beauty and weapons could not protect him from death. His queens saw his fallen body and lamented deeply.

  2. 2

    While fighting in anger, the king bit his lips to show his prowess. Nonetheless, he was killed by providence.

  3. 3

    We are controlled by higher authorities; personal power and endeavor are not always supreme. The purport therefore teaches us to accept the position offered by the order of the Supreme.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated here, rabhasā daṣṭa-dacchadam: the dead King, while fighting in anger, bit his lips to show his prowess, but nonetheless he was killed by providence (vidhinā).
  • This proves that we are controlled by higher authorities; our personal power or endeavor is not always supreme.
  • We must therefore accept the position offered to us by the order of the Supreme.

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

Pride and rage → Oppression. The ruler's power intensifies his insecurity.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 7: Hiraṇyakaśipu's ascent and intimidation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

To pacify them, he spoke as follows: “My dear nephews, for heroes to die before the enemy is glorious. According to their different fruitive activities, living entities come together within this material world and are again separated by the laws of nature.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viśīrṇascattered here and there
  2. ratnamade of jewels
  3. kavacamprotective armor
  4. vibhraṣṭafallen off
  5. ābharaṇaornaments
  6. srajamgarlands
  7. śara-nirbhinnapierced by arrows
  8. hṛdayamthe heart
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “crying”, “lamented”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “lusterless”

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

Where are you expecting your own strength or effort to control every outcome?

Practice

When one plan does not go your way today, pause and acknowledge that your personal power is not supreme.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPersonal Power Is Not SupremeThis 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 7.2.29-31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.