The Son of Drona Punished

Verse 1 (bhagavata.1.7.1)

शौनक उवाच निर्गते नारदे सूत भगवान् बादरायणः । श्रुतवांस्तदभिप्रेतं ततः किमकरोद्विभुः ॥ १ ॥

śaunaka uvāca nirgate nārade sūta bhagavān bādarāyaṇaḥ śrutavāṁs tad-abhipretaṁ tataḥ kim akarod vibhuḥ

Shaunaka said: O Suta, the powerful Badarayana [Vyasa] heard from Narada all that he wished to convey. What, then, did the great sage do after Narada's departure?

Verse 2 (bhagavata.1.7.2)

सूत उवाच ब्रह्मनद्यां सरस्वत्यामाश्रमः पश्चिमे तटे । शम्याप्रास इति प्रोक्त ऋषीणां सत्रवर्धनः ॥ २ ॥

sūta uvāca brahma-nadyāṁ sarasvatyām āśramaḥ paścime taṭe śamyāprāsa iti prokta ṛṣīṇāṁ satra-vardhanaḥ

Suta said: On the western bank of the Sarasvati, the river intimately bound to the Vedas, there stands a hermitage named Shamyaprasa, one that has enriched the sacrificial gatherings of sages.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.1.7.3)

तस्मिन् स्व आश्रमे व्यासो बदरीषण्डमण्डिते । आसीनोऽप उपस्पृश्य प्रणिदध्यौ मनः स्वयम् ॥ ३ ॥

tasmin sva āśrame vyāso badarī-ṣaṇḍa-maṇḍite āsīno ’pa upaspṛśya praṇidadhyau manaḥ svayam

There, in his own hermitage surrounded by clusters of berry trees, Vyasa sat down, touched water in purification, and himself brought his mind into concentration.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.1.7.4)

भक्तियोगेन मनसि सम्यक् प्रणिहितेऽमले । अपश्यत्पुरुषं पूर्णं मायां च तदपाश्रयम् ॥ ४ ॥

bhakti-yogena manasi samyak praṇihite ’male apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇaṁ māyāṁ ca tad-apāśrayām

With his mind perfectly and purely fixed through the discipline of bhakti-yoga, he beheld the complete Person Himself, along with the Maya that rests entirely under His control.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.1.7.5)

यया सम्मोहितो जीव आत्मानं त्रिगुणात्मकम् । परोऽपि मनुतेऽनर्थं तत्कृतं चाभिपद्यते ॥ ५ ॥

yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam paro ’pi manute ’narthaṁ tat-kṛtaṁ cābhipadyate

Bewildered by that very Maya, the living being — though in truth transcendent — comes to regard himself as a product of the three gunas, and thereby takes on the troubles that arise from it as his own.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.1.7.6)

अनर्थोपशमं साक्षाद्भक्तियोगमधोक्षजे । लोकस्याजानतो विद्वांश्चक्रे सात्वतसंहिताम् ॥ ६ ॥

anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje lokasyājānato vidvāṁś cakre sātvata-saṁhitām

These troubles find their direct remedy in devotion to the transcendent Lord alone; and since ordinary people did not know this, the learned Vyasa composed this scripture bound to the Supreme Truth.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.1.7.7)

यस्यां वै श्रूयमाणायां कृष्णे परमपूरुषे । भक्तिरुत्पद्यते पुंसः शोकमोहभयापहा ॥ ७ ॥

yasyāṁ vai śrūyamāṇāyāṁ kṛṣṇe parama-pūruṣe bhaktir utpadyate puṁsaḥ śoka-moha-bhayāpahā

By merely hearing this work, devotion to Krishna, the Supreme Person, springs up in one — a devotion that drives away sorrow, delusion and fear.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.1.7.8)

स संहितां भागवतीं कृत्वानुक्रम्य चात्मजम् । शुकमध्यापयामास निवृत्तिनिरतं मुनिः ॥ ८ ॥

sa saṁhitāṁ bhāgavatīṁ kṛtvānukramya cātma-jam śukam adhyāpayām āsa nivṛtti-nirataṁ muniḥ

Having composed and arranged this Bhagavata scripture, the sage taught it to his own son Shuka, who was already devoted to the path of renunciation.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.1.7.9)

शौनक उवाच स वै निवृत्तिनिरतः सर्वत्रोपेक्षको मुनिः । कस्य वा बृहतीमेतामात्मारामः समभ्यसत् ॥ ९ ॥

śaunaka uvāca sa vai nivṛtti-nirataḥ sarvatropekṣako muniḥ kasya vā bṛhatīm etām ātmārāmaḥ samabhyasat

Shaunaka said: That sage who was devoted wholly to renunciation, indifferent to everything else, delighting in his own self — for whose sake, then, did he undertake the study of this vast work?

Verse 10 (bhagavata.1.7.10)

सूत उवाच आत्मारामाश्च मुनयो निर्ग्रन्था अप्युरुक्रमे । कुर्वन्त्यहैतुकीं भक्तिमित्थम्भूतगुणो हरिः ॥ १० ॥

sūta uvāca ātmārāmāś ca munayo nirgranthā apy urukrame kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

Suta said: Even self-satisfied sages, free of all bondage, render unmotivated devotion to the Lord of vast deeds — such are the wondrous qualities of Hari.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.1.7.11)

हरेर्गुणाक्षिप्तमतिर्भगवान् बादरायणिः । अध्यगान्महदाख्यानं नित्यं विष्णुजनप्रियः ॥ ११ ॥

harer guṇākṣipta-matir bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ adhyagān mahad ākhyānaṁ nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ

The illustrious son of Badarayana, his mind drawn wholly by the qualities of Hari, and dear always to the devotees of Vishnu, took up this great narration for constant, daily study.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.1.7.12)

परीक्षितोऽथ राजर्षेर्जन्मकर्मविलापनम् । संस्थां च पाण्डुपुत्राणां वक्ष्ये कृष्णकथोदयम् ॥ १२ ॥

parīkṣito ’tha rājarṣer janma-karma-vilāpanam saṁsthāṁ ca pāṇḍu-putrāṇāṁ vakṣye kṛṣṇa-kathodayam

Now I shall speak of the birth, deeds and final release of King Parikshit, that royal sage, and of the passing of the sons of Pandu — the very telling that gives rise to the story of Krishna.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.1.7.13)

यदा मृधे कौरवसृञ्जयानां वीरेष्वथो वीरगतिं गतेषु । वृकोदराविद्धगदाभिमर्श- भग्नोरुदण्डे धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रे ॥ १३ ॥

yadā mṛdhe kaurava-sṛñjayānāṁ vīreṣv atho vīra-gatiṁ gateṣu vṛkodarāviddha-gadābhimarśa- bhagnoru-daṇḍe dhṛtarāṣṭra-putre

When the warriors of both the Kaurava and Srinjaya armies had met their warrior's end on the battlefield, and Dhritarashtra's son lay there with his back broken by the blow of Bhima's mace —

Verse 14 (bhagavata.1.7.14)

भर्तुः प्रियं द्रौणिरिति स्म पश्यन् कृष्णासुतानां स्वपतां शिरांसि । उपाहरद्विप्रियमेव तस्य जुगुप्सितं कर्म विगर्हयन्ति ॥ १४ ॥

bhartuḥ priyaṁ drauṇir iti sma paśyan kṛṣṇā-sutānāṁ svapatāṁ śirāṁsi upāharad vipriyam eva tasya jugupsitaṁ karma vigarhayanti

— the son of Drona, thinking to please his master, brought him the severed heads of Draupadi's sleeping sons as an offering; yet the wise condemn that vile act, for even his master took no pleasure in it.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.1.7.15)

माता शिशूनां निधनं सुतानां निशम्य घोरं परितप्यमाना । तदारुदद्वाष्पकलाकुलाक्षी तां सान्त्वयन्नाह किरीटमाली ॥ १५ ॥

mātā śiśūnāṁ nidhanaṁ sutānāṁ niśamya ghoraṁ paritapyamānā tadārudad vāṣpa-kalākulākṣī tāṁ sāntvayann āha kirīṭamālī

When the mother of those children heard of the terrible slaughter of her sons, she was overcome with grief and wept, her eyes clouded with tears; and Arjuna, wearer of the diadem, spoke to console her —

Verse 16 (bhagavata.1.7.16)

तदा शुचस्ते प्रमृजामि भद्रे यद्ब्रह्मबन्धोः शिर आततायिनः । गाण्डीवमुक्तैर्विशिखैरुपाहरे त्वाक्रम्य यत्स्नास्यसि दग्धपुत्रा ॥ १६ ॥

tadā śucas te pramṛjāmi bhadre yad brahma-bandhoḥ śira ātatāyinaḥ gāṇḍīva-muktair viśikhair upāhare tvākramya yat snāsyasi dagdha-putrā

"O gentle one, only when I bring you, with arrows loosed from my Gandiva bow, the severed head of that aggressor unworthy of the brahmin name — and you, after cremating your sons, bathe standing upon that very head — only then shall I wipe away your tears."

Verse 17 (bhagavata.1.7.17)

इति प्रियां वल्गुविचित्रजल्पैः स सान्त्वयित्वाच्युतमित्रसूतः । अन्वाद्रवद्दंशित उग्रधन्वा कपिध्वजो गुरुपुत्रं रथेन ॥ १७ ॥

iti priyāṁ valgu-vicitra-jalpaiḥ sa sāntvayitvācyuta-mitra-sūtaḥ anvādravad daṁśita ugra-dhanvā kapi-dhvajo guru-putraṁ rathena

Having thus comforted his beloved wife with sweet and varied words, Arjuna, whose friend and charioteer was the infallible Lord, put on his armour, took up his fearsome bow, and, mounted on his monkey-bannered chariot, set out in pursuit of his teacher's son.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.1.7.18)

तमापतन्तं स विलक्ष्य दूरात् कुमारहोद्विग्नमना रथेन । पराद्रवत्प्राणपरीप्सुरुर्व्यां यावद्गमं रुद्रभयाद्यथा कः ॥ १८ ॥

tam āpatantaṁ sa vilakṣya dūrāt kumāra-hodvigna-manā rathena parādravat prāṇa-parīpsur urvyāṁ yāvad-gamaṁ rudra-bhayād yathā kaḥ

Seeing him bearing down from afar, the murderer of the boys, his mind panicked, fled in his chariot with all speed to save his life — as one flees, terror-stricken, before the wrath of Rudra.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.1.7.19)

यदाशरणमात्मानमैक्षत श्रान्तवाजिनम् । अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो मेने आत्मत्राणं द्विजात्मजः ॥ १९ ॥

yadāśaraṇam ātmānam aikṣata śrānta-vājinam astraṁ brahma-śiro mene ātma-trāṇaṁ dvijātmajaḥ

When the brahmin's son saw his horses exhausted and himself without any other refuge, he resolved that the ultimate weapon, the Brahmashira astra, was his only means of self-protection.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.1.7.20)

अथोपस्पृश्य सलिलं सन्दधे तत्समाहितः । अजानन्नपि संहारं प्राणकृच्छ्र उपस्थिते ॥ २० ॥

athopaspṛśya salilaṁ sandadhe tat samāhitaḥ ajānann api saṁhāraṁ prāṇa-kṛcchra upasthite

Then, his life in peril, though he knew not how to withdraw it, he touched water, composed his mind, and invoked that weapon.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.1.7.21)

ततः प्रादुष्कृतं तेजः प्रचण्डं सर्वतोदिशम् । प्राणापदमभिप्रेक्ष्य विष्णुं जिष्णुरुवाच ह ॥ २१ ॥

tataḥ prāduṣkṛtaṁ tejaḥ pracaṇḍaṁ sarvato diśam prāṇāpadam abhiprekṣya viṣṇuṁ jiṣṇur uvāca ha

At once a fierce radiance spread out in every direction; and seeing his very life imperiled by it, Arjuna spoke to Vishnu.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.1.7.22)

अर्जुन उवाच कृष्ण कृष्ण महाबाहो भक्तानामभयङ्कर । त्वमेको दह्यमानानामपवर्गोऽसि संसृतेः ॥ २२ ॥

arjuna uvāca kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bāho bhaktānām abhayaṅkara tvam eko dahyamānānām apavargo ’si saṁsṛteḥ

Arjuna said: O Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, who grants fearlessness to Your devotees — You alone are the refuge and release for those burning in the fire of this worldly existence.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.1.7.23)

त्वमाद्यः पुरुषः साक्षादीश्वरः प्रकृतेः परः । मायां व्युदस्य चिच्छक्त्या कैवल्ये स्थित आत्मनि ॥ २३ ॥

tvam ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ sākṣād īśvaraḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ māyāṁ vyudasya cic-chaktyā kaivalye sthita ātmani

You are the primeval Person, the very Lord Himself, beyond material nature; casting aside Maya by Your own spiritual power, You remain established in Your own unalloyed self.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.1.7.24)

स एव जीवलोकस्य मायामोहितचेतसः । विधत्से स्वेन वीर्येण श्रेयो धर्मादिलक्षणम् ॥ २४ ॥

sa eva jīva-lokasya māyā-mohita-cetasaḥ vidhatse svena vīryeṇa śreyo dharmādi-lakṣaṇam

That very You, though transcendent to it, bring about the ultimate good — marked by dharma and its allied principles — for this world of living beings, deluded as they are by Maya, through Your own power.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.1.7.25)

तथायं चावतारस्ते भुवो भारजिहीर्षया । स्वानां चानन्यभावानामनुध्यानाय चासकृत् ॥ २५ ॥

tathāyaṁ cāvatāras te bhuvo bhāra-jihīrṣayā svānāṁ cānanya-bhāvānām anudhyānāya cāsakṛt

So too this incarnation of Yours has come to lift the burden of the earth, and to give Your exclusive devotees an unceasing object for their meditation.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.1.7.26)

किमिदं स्वित्कुतो वेति देवदेव न वेद्म्यहम् । सर्वतोमुखमायाति तेजः परमदारुणम् ॥ २६ ॥

kim idaṁ svit kuto veti deva-deva na vedmy aham sarvato mukham āyāti tejaḥ parama-dāruṇam

O Lord of lords, I do not know what this is or whence it comes — this most terrible radiance is closing in from every direction.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.1.7.27)

श्रीभगवानुवाच वेत्थेदं द्रोणपुत्रस्य ब्राह्ममस्त्रं प्रदर्शितम् । नैवासौ वेद संहारं प्राणबाध उपस्थिते ॥ २७ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca vetthedaṁ droṇa-putrasya brāhmam astraṁ pradarśitam naivāsau veda saṁhāraṁ prāṇa-bādha upasthite

Sri Bhagavan said: Know that this is the brahmastra unleashed by the son of Drona; his life being in danger, he has invoked it, but he does not know how to withdraw it.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.1.7.28)

न ह्यस्यान्यतमं किञ्चिदस्त्रं प्रत्यवकर्शनम् । जह्यस्त्रतेज उन्नद्धमस्त्रज्ञो ह्यस्त्रतेजसा ॥ २८ ॥

na hy asyānyatamaṁ kiñcid astraṁ pratyavakarśanam jahy astra-teja unnaddham astra-jño hy astra-tejasā

There is no counter to this weapon save another of its own kind; so, you who are versed in the science of arms, subdue its fierce radiance with the radiance of your own weapon.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.1.7.29)

सूत उवाच श्रुत्वा भगवता प्रोक्तं फाल्गुनः परवीरहा । स्पृष्ट्वापस्तं परिक्रम्य ब्राह्मं ब्राह्मास्त्रं सन्दधे ॥ २९ ॥

sūta uvāca śrutvā bhagavatā proktaṁ phālgunaḥ para-vīra-hā spṛṣṭvāpas taṁ parikramya brāhmaṁ brāhmāstraṁ sandadhe

Suta said: Hearing this from the Lord, Phalguna, slayer of enemy heroes, touched water, circled the Lord in reverence, and let loose that sacred brahmastra.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.1.7.30)

संहत्यान्योन्यमुभयोस्तेजसी शरसंवृते । आवृत्य रोदसी खं च ववृधातेऽर्कवह्निवत् ॥ ३० ॥

saṁhatyānyonyam ubhayos tejasī śara-saṁvṛte āvṛtya rodasī khaṁ ca vavṛdhāte ’rka-vahnivat

The radiances of the two weapons, each veiled in its own arrows, joined together and, like the sun and fire combined, began to spread and cover the whole sky and every quarter.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.1.7.31)

दृष्ट्वास्त्रतेजस्तु तयोस्त्रील्लोकान् प्रदहन्महत् । दह्यमानाः प्रजाः सर्वाः सांवर्तकममंसत ॥ ३१ ॥

dṛṣṭvāstra-tejas tu tayos trīl lokān pradahan mahat dahyamānāḥ prajāḥ sarvāḥ sāṁvartakam amaṁsata

Seeing that immense combined radiance of the two weapons scorching the three worlds, all the burning populace took it for the samvartaka fire that appears at the time of universal dissolution.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.1.7.32)

प्रजोपद्रवमालक्ष्य लोकव्यतिकरं च तम् । मतं च वासुदेवस्य सञ्जहारार्जुनो द्वयम् ॥ ३२ ॥

prajopadravam ālakṣya loka-vyatikaraṁ ca tam mataṁ ca vāsudevasya sañjahārārjuno dvayam

Seeing the distress of the people and the imminent destruction of the worlds, and reading the intent of Vasudeva, Arjuna withdrew both weapons.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.1.7.33)

तत आसाद्य तरसा दारुणं गौतमीसुतम् । बबन्धामर्षताम्राक्षः पशुं रशनया यथा ॥ ३३ ॥

tata āsādya tarasā dāruṇaṁ gautamī-sutam babandhāmarṣa-tāmrākṣaḥ paśuṁ raśanayā yathā

Then, his eyes red with anger, Arjuna swiftly seized the fearsome son of Gautami and bound him with ropes, as one binds an animal.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.1.7.34)

शिबिराय निनीषन्तं रज्ज्वा बद्ध्वा रिपुं बलात् । प्राहार्जुनं प्रकुपितो भगवानम्बुजेक्षणः ॥ ३४ ॥

śibirāya ninīṣantaṁ rajjvā baddhvā ripuṁ balāt prāhārjunaṁ prakupito bhagavān ambujekṣaṇaḥ

As Arjuna, having bound his enemy with ropes, sought to lead him toward the camp, the lotus-eyed Lord, now angry, spoke to Arjuna —

Verse 35 (bhagavata.1.7.35)

मैनं पार्थार्हसि त्रातुं ब्रह्मबन्धुमिमं जहि । योऽसावनागसः सुप्तानवधीन्निशि बालकान् ॥ ३५ ॥

mainaṁ pārthārhasi trātuṁ brahma-bandhum imaṁ jahi yo ’sāv anāgasaḥ suptān avadhīn niśi bālakān

"O Partha, you ought not to spare this unworthy son of a brahmin — kill him, for he has slain innocent, sleeping children in the night."

Verse 36 (bhagavata.1.7.36)

मत्तं प्रमत्तमुन्मत्तं सुप्तं बालं स्त्रियं जडम् । प्रपन्नं विरथं भीतं न रिपुं हन्ति धर्मवित् ॥ ३६ ॥

mattaṁ pramattam unmattaṁ suptaṁ bālaṁ striyaṁ jaḍam prapannaṁ virathaṁ bhītaṁ na ripuṁ hanti dharma-vit

One who knows the principles of dharma does not slay an enemy who is careless, intoxicated, insane, asleep, a child, a woman, a fool, one who has surrendered, one without his chariot, or one who is afraid.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.1.7.37)

स्वप्राणान् यः परप्राणैः प्रपुष्णात्यघृणः खलः । तद्वधस्तस्य हि श्रेयो यद्दोषाद्यात्यधः पुमान् ॥ ३७ ॥

sva-prāṇān yaḥ para-prāṇaiḥ prapuṣṇāty aghṛṇaḥ khalaḥ tad-vadhas tasya hi śreyo yad-doṣād yāty adhaḥ pumān

But the shameless, cruel one who nourishes his own life at the cost of others' lives — the killing of such a person is in fact for his own good, for by that very fault a man sinks downward.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.1.7.38)

प्रतिश्रुतं च भवता पाञ्चाल्यै शृण्वतो मम । आहरिष्ये शिरस्तस्य यस्ते मानिनि पुत्रहा ॥ ३८ ॥

pratiśrutaṁ ca bhavatā pāñcālyai śṛṇvato mama āhariṣye śiras tasya yas te mānini putra-hā

Besides, I myself heard you promise Draupadi, in my presence, that you would bring the head of the one who killed her sons, O proud lady.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.1.7.39)

तदसौ वध्यतां पाप आतताय्यात्मबन्धुहा । भर्तुश्च विप्रियं वीर कृतवान् कुलपांसनः ॥ ३९ ॥

tad asau vadhyatāṁ pāpa ātatāyy ātma-bandhu-hā bhartuś ca vipriyaṁ vīra kṛtavān kula-pāṁsanaḥ

Therefore, O hero, this sinner, this aggressor, this murderer of his own kinsmen — this disgrace to his family who has displeased even his own master — deserves to be slain.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.1.7.40)

सूत उवाच एवं परीक्षता धर्मं पार्थः कृष्णेन चोदितः । नैच्छद्धन्तुं गुरुसुतं यद्यप्यात्महनं महान् ॥ ४० ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ parīkṣatā dharmaṁ pārthaḥ kṛṣṇena coditaḥ naicchad dhantuṁ guru-sutaṁ yadyapy ātma-hanaṁ mahān

Suta said: Though thus urged by Krishna, who was testing Arjuna's grasp of dharma, that great soul did not wish to kill the son of his teacher, even though the man was a murderer of his own kin.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.1.7.41)

अथोपेत्य स्वशिबिरं गोविन्दप्रियसारथिः । न्यवेदयत्तं प्रियायै शोचन्त्या आत्मजान् हतान् ॥ ४१ ॥

athopetya sva-śibiraṁ govinda-priya-sārathiḥ nyavedayat taṁ priyāyai śocantyā ātma-jān hatān

Thereafter, reaching his own camp, Arjuna — dear charioteer of Govinda — handed over the captive to his beloved wife, who still grieved for her slain sons.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.1.7.42)

तथाहृतं पशुवत् पाशबद्ध- मवाङ्मुखं कर्मजुगुप्सितेन । निरीक्ष्य कृष्णापकृतं गुरोः सुतं वामस्वभावा कृपया ननाम च ॥ ४२ ॥

tathāhṛtaṁ paśuvat pāśa-baddham avāṅ-mukhaṁ karma-jugupsitena nirīkṣya kṛṣṇāpakṛtaṁ guroḥ sutaṁ vāma-svabhāvā kṛpayā nanāma ca

Seeing the teacher's son thus brought in bound like an animal, his face bowed low for his loathsome deed, Draupadi, gentle by nature, bowed to him out of compassion.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.1.7.43)

उवाच चासहन्त्यस्य बन्धनानयनं सती । मुच्यतां मुच्यतामेष ब्राह्मणो नितरां गुरुः ॥ ४३ ॥

uvāca cāsahanty asya bandhanānayanaṁ satī mucyatāṁ mucyatām eṣa brāhmaṇo nitarāṁ guruḥ

Unable to bear his being brought in bound, the chaste lady said: "Release him, release him — he is a brahmin, and to us as worthy of reverence as our own teacher."

Verse 44 (bhagavata.1.7.44)

सरहस्यो धनुर्वेदः सविसर्गोपसंयमः । अस्त्रग्रामश्च भवता शिक्षितो यदनुग्रहात् ॥ ४४ ॥

sarahasyo dhanur-vedaḥ savisargopasaṁyamaḥ astra-grāmaś ca bhavatā śikṣito yad-anugrahāt

It was through this man's father's grace that you learned the confidential science of the bow, the art of releasing and withdrawing weapons, and the whole array of celestial arms.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.1.7.45)

स एष भगवान्द्रोणः प्रजारूपेण वर्तते । तस्यात्मनोऽर्धं पत्न्यास्ते नान्वगाद्वीरसूः कृपी ॥ ४५ ॥

sa eṣa bhagavān droṇaḥ prajā-rūpeṇa vartate tasyātmano ’rdhaṁ patny āste nānvagād vīrasūḥ kṛpī

Lord Drona himself, as it were, continues to live on in the form of his offspring; nor did his devoted wife Kripi, mother of this hero, follow him in death, since her son yet lives.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.1.7.46)

तद् धर्मज्ञ महाभाग भवद्भिर्गौरवं कुलम् । वृजिनं नार्हति प्राप्तुं पूज्यं वन्द्यमभीक्ष्णशः ॥ ४६ ॥

tad dharmajña mahā-bhāga bhavadbhir gauravaṁ kulam vṛjinaṁ nārhati prāptuṁ pūjyaṁ vandyam abhīkṣṇaśaḥ

Therefore, O knower of dharma, O most fortunate one, this glorious family, ever worthy of worship and reverence, ought not to suffer grief at your hands.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.1.7.47)

मा रोदीदस्य जननी गौतमी पतिदेवता । यथाहं मृतवत्सार्ता रोदिम्यश्रुमुखी मुहुः ॥ ४७ ॥

mā rodīd asya jananī gautamī pati-devatā yathāhaṁ mṛta-vatsārtā rodimy aśru-mukhī muhuḥ

Let not this man's mother, the chaste Gautami, weep as I weep — again and again, my face wet with tears, grieving for my dead sons.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.1.7.48)

यैः कोपितं ब्रह्मकुलं राजन्यैरजितात्मभिः । तत् कुलं प्रदहत्याशु सानुबन्धं शुचार्पितम् ॥ ४८ ॥

yaiḥ kopitaṁ brahma-kulaṁ rājanyair ajitātmabhiḥ tat kulaṁ pradahaty āśu sānubandhaṁ śucārpitam

The family of those unrestrained kshatriyas who provoke the anger of the brahmin order is swiftly consumed by that very fire, along with all its kin, and cast into grief.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.1.7.49)

सूत उवाच धर्म्यं न्याय्यं सकरुणं निर्व्यलीकं समं महत् । राजा धर्मसुतो राज्ञ्याः प्रत्यनन्दद्वचो द्विजाः ॥ ४९ ॥

sūta uvāca dharmyaṁ nyāyyaṁ sakaruṇaṁ nirvyalīkaṁ samaṁ mahat rājā dharma-suto rājñyāḥ pratyanandad vaco dvijāḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, fully endorsed the Queen's words — righteous, just, full of compassion, without duplicity, equitable and noble as they were.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.1.7.50)

नकुलः सहदेवश्च युयुधानो धनञ्जयः । भगवान् देवकीपुत्रो ये चान्ये याश्च योषितः ॥ ५० ॥

nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca yuyudhāno dhanañjayaḥ bhagavān devakī-putro ye cānye yāś ca yoṣitaḥ

Nakula and Sahadeva, Yuyudhana, Dhananjaya, the Lord Krishna, son of Devaki, and all the others present, men and women alike, agreed with the same view.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.1.7.51)

तत्राहामर्षितो भीमस्तस्य श्रेयान् वधः स्मृतः । न भर्तुर्नात्मनश्चार्थे योऽहन् सुप्तान् शिशून् वृथा ॥ ५१ ॥

tatrāhāmarṣito bhīmas tasya śreyān vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ na bhartur nātmanaś cārthe yo ’han suptān śiśūn vṛthā

But Bhima, filled with anger, spoke there, holding that the killing of this man — who slew sleeping children pointlessly, for neither his master's benefit nor his own — was itself his true good.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.1.7.52)

निशम्य भीमगदितं द्रौपद्याश्च चतुर्भुजः । आलोक्य वदनं सख्युरिदमाहहसन्निव ॥ ५२ ॥

niśamya bhīma-gaditaṁ draupadyāś ca catur-bhujaḥ ālokya vadanaṁ sakhyur idam āha hasann iva

Having heard what Bhima and Draupadi had said, the four-armed Lord looked toward the face of His friend Arjuna and spoke, as if smiling —

Verse 53 (bhagavata.1.7.53)

श्रीभगवानुवाच ब्रह्मबन्धुर्न हन्तव्य आततायी वधार्हणः । मयैवोभयमाम्नातं परिपाह्यनुशासनम् ॥ ५३ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca brahma-bandhur na hantavya ātatāyī vadhārhaṇaḥ mayaivobhayam āmnātaṁ paripāhy anuśāsanam

Sri Bhagavan said: "An unworthy son of a brahmin ought not to be killed, yet if he is an aggressor he does deserve death — both these rulings have been declared by Me in the scriptures. Uphold that teaching.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.1.7.54)

कुरु प्रतिश्रुतं सत्यं यत्तत्सान्त्वयता प्रियाम् । प्रियं च भीमसेनस्य पाञ्चाल्या मह्यमेव च ॥ ५४ ॥

kuru pratiśrutaṁ satyaṁ yat tat sāntvayatā priyām priyaṁ ca bhīmasenasya pāñcālyā mahyam eva ca

"Keep true that promise you made while consoling your beloved, and thereby also satisfy Bhimasena, Draupadi and Myself."

Verse 55 (bhagavata.1.7.55)

सूत उवाच अर्जुनः सहसाज्ञाय हरेर्हार्दमथासिना । मणिं जहार मूर्धन्यं द्विजस्य सहमूर्धजम् ॥ ५५ ॥

sūta uvāca arjunaḥ sahasājñāya harer hārdam athāsinā maṇiṁ jahāra mūrdhanyaṁ dvijasya saha-mūrdhajam

Suta said: Grasping at once the true intent hidden in the Lord's words, Arjuna, with his sword, cut away the jewel from the brahmin's head, hair and all.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.1.7.56)

विमुच्य रशनाबद्धं बालहत्याहतप्रभम् । तेजसा मणिना हीनं शिबिरान्निरयापयत् ॥ ५६ ॥

vimucya raśanā-baddhaṁ bāla-hatyā-hata-prabham tejasā maṇinā hīnaṁ śibirān nirayāpayat

Then, releasing him from his bonds — this man whose lustre had already been destroyed by the murder of children, and who was now further stripped of the jewel's radiance — they drove him out of the camp.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.1.7.57)

वपनं द्रविणादानं स्थानान्निर्यापणं तथा । एष हि ब्रह्मबन्धूनां वधो नान्योऽस्ति दैहिकः ॥ ५७ ॥

vapanaṁ draviṇādānaṁ sthānān niryāpaṇaṁ tathā eṣa hi brahma-bandhūnāṁ vadho nānyo ’sti daihikaḥ

Shaving the head, seizing his wealth, and driving him from his abode — this alone is the prescribed punishment for one unworthy of the brahmin name; there is no sanction anywhere for taking his life.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.1.7.58)

पुत्रशोकातुराः सर्वे पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णया । स्वानां मृतानां यत्कृत्यं चक्रुर्निर्हरणादिकम् ॥ ५८ ॥

putra-śokāturāḥ sarve pāṇḍavāḥ saha kṛṣṇayā svānāṁ mṛtānāṁ yat kṛtyaṁ cakrur nirharaṇādikam

After this, all the Pandavas, together with Draupadi, overwhelmed with grief for their sons, performed the funeral rites and other proper duties owed to their dead kinsmen.