SB (1964) Seventh Chapter - The Son of Drona Punished (continued)
SB 1.7.8 (1964): The great sage Vyasadeva after compiling the Srimad Bhagwatam and its due revision, taught it to his own son Sri Sukadeva Goswami who was already engaged in the matter of self realisation.
SB 1.7.9 (1964): Sri Sounaka enquired from Suta Goswami, 'Sri Sukdeva Goswami was already on the path of self-realisation and as such he was pleased with his own self. Then what was the reason that he also took the trouble of undergoing such vast literature.
SB 1.7.10 (1964): All different varieties of Atmaramas especially those who are fixed up on the path of self realisation even though they are freed from all kinds of material bondage, do desire to render unalloyed devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead. This means that the Lord is possessed of transcendental qualities and therefore can attract everyone including the liberated souls.
SB 1.7.11 (1964): Srila Sukadeva Goswami son of Srila Vyasdeva was not only transcendentally powerful but also he was himself very dear to the devotees of the Lord. As such He underwent the study of the great narration (Srimad Bhagwatam).
SB 1.7.12 (1964): Suta Goswami thus addressed the Rishis headed by Sounaka and said: now I shall begin the transcendental narration of Lord Sri Krishna in connection with the topics of the birth, activities and deliverance of King Parikshit, the sage amongst the kings as well as in connection with the renouncement of the sons of Pandu in the wordly order.
SB 1.7.13 (1964): When the respective warriors of both the camps namely the Kouravas and the Pandavas were killed in the battlefield of Kurukshetra and the bygone warriors obtained destinations deserved by them, and when the son of Dhritarastra fell down broken by the spinal-cord being beaten by the club of Bhimasena and was lamenting.
SB 1.7.14 (1964): The son of Dronacharya (Aswathama) thought it foolishly that it would be pleasing to his master and thus beheaded the five sleeping sons of Droupadi to make a presentation to his boss. Duryodhone, however, disapproved the heinous act without being pleased in the least
SB 1.7.15 (1964): Dradupadi, the mother of the five children of the pandvas, after hearing the massacre of her sons began to cry in distress and her eyes were full with tears. And Arjuna said to her just trying to pacify her great loss.
SB 1.7.16 (1964): Oh gentle lady when I shall bring about the head of the Brahmin after beheading him with arrows of my Gandiva bow and shall present it before you, at that time only I shall wipe out your tears in the eyes in order to pacify you and you can tako bath standing on it after burning your sons' body.
SB 1.7.17 (1964): Arjuna who is guided by the Infallible Lord as friend and driver, thus satisfying his dear with sweet words of different description dressed himself with protecting as well as furious weapons and began to follow Aswatthama the son of his martial teacher, getting on the chariot.
SB 1.7.18 (1964): Aswatthama the murderer of the princes thus looking over Arjuna coming over him with great speed from a distance, began to fly away with distressed mind on the chariot just to save his life as Brahma fled being afraid of Shiva.
SB 1.7.19 (1964): When the son of a Brahmin saw it that his horses were also tired, then he considered no other alternative for protecting himself than the use of the ultimate weapon known as Brahmastra (nuclear weapon)
SB 1.7.20 (1964): Although it was not known to him how to withdraw the nuclear weapon still his life being placed in danger he touched water in sanctity and concentrated upon the chanting of the hymn for throwing the nuclear weapon.
SB 1.7.21 (1964): Thereafter a glaring light spread over all round the directions and it was so much fierceful that Arjuna thought it dangerous for his own life and thus he began to address Lord Sri Krishna.
SB 1.7.22 (1964): Oh my Lord Sri Krishna you are the Almighty Personality of Godhead and there is no limit for Your different energies. As such you are only competent to award fearlessness in the heart of Your devotees. Arjuna also said that everyone in the flames of material miseries can find out the path of liberation in You only.
SB 1.7.23 (1964): (Arjuna said further) You are the original Personality of Godhead who expands Himself all over the creations and are transcendental to material energy. You have thrown away effects of material energy by dint of your spiritual potency and you are always situated in eternal bliss and knowledge transcendental.
SB 1.7.24 (1964): And yet, although you are beyond the purview of the material energy you do execute the four principles of liberation characterised by religiousity etc. for the ultimate good of the conditioned souls.
SB 1.7.25 (1964): Thus Your descent as an incarnation is just to remove the burden of the world as well as for the benefit of Your own men and specially of those who are Your exclusive devotees, who are constantly rapt in meditation for You.
SB 1.7.26 (1964): Oh the Lord of lords (Krishna), how this all round dangerous effulgence coming out and where does it come from? I do not understand it. (please tell me)
SB 1.7.27 (1964): The Supreme Personality of Godhead said—"just know it from Me that It is an act of the son of Drona by throwing the hymns of nuclear energy (Brahmastra) and the fellow does not know how to retract the glare. He has done it helplessly being afraid of imminent extiction of life.
SB 1.7.28 (1964): (The Lord said) Oh Arjuna there is no other weapon except the Brahmastra to counter act the action of a Brahmastra and therefore, as you are well expert in the military science, get the glare of the weapon subsided by the influence of your weapon as a matter of fact.
SB 1.7.29 (1964): Sri Suta Goswami said, "Thus hearing from the personality of Godhead Arjuna touched water for purification and after circumbulating Lord Sri Krishna he acted on the Brahma weapon for counteracting the opposite one."
SB 1.7.30 (1964): Thus by combination of the rays of the two Brahmastras there was an encirclement of excessive fire like in the dish of the Sun globe and it covered all round the outer space and the whole firmament of planets.
SB 1.7.31 (1964): All the population of the three worlds thus feeling a severe burning sensation by the combination of the heat of the weapons, began to think of the Samvartaka fire which takes place during the time of annihilation.
SB 1.7.32 (1964): Arjuna, thus seeing the disturbance of the people in general also imminent destruction of the planets, at once retracted both the Brahmastra weapons because Lord Sri Krishna expressed His opinion in that way.
SB 1.7.33 (1964): By anger Arjun's eyes seemed to be red balls of copper and he dexterously arrested the son of Goutami in the manner as it were an animal is bound up by ropes.
SB 1.7.34 (1964): When Arjuna after arresting Aswatthama wanted to take him towards the military camp side, the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, who looks on with His lotus eyes, said to him (Arjuna) in an angry mood.
SB 1.7.35 (1964): Lord Sri Krishna said, "Oh Arjuna you ought not to show any mercy for his releasing this relative of a Brahmin who has killed innocent and sleeping boys without any fault."
SB 1.7.36 (1964): A person, who knows the principles of religiosity, does not kill an enemy who is careless, intoxicated, insane, asleep, a boy, a woman, a foolish creature, a surrendered soul, devoid of his chariot, afraid of etc.
SB 1.7.37 (1964): A cruel and wretched person who maintains his existence properly at the cost of other's life, deserves being killed; because such action is for his well being otherwise he shall go down by his own actions.
SB 1.7.38 (1964): Lord Sri Krishna said, "You have also promised to Droupadi, which I have personally heard, that you would bring forth the head of the killer of the sons of Droupadi."
SB 1.7.39 (1964): Therefore this man is the assaulter and murderer of your own family members. Not only that, he has also dissatisfied his master and is also the burnt remnants of his family. Kill him immediately.
SB 1.7.40 (1964): Inspite of thus being encouraged and examined in religiosity by Lord Krishna for killing the son of Dronacharya, Arjuna himself a great soul did not like the idea of killing him although he was a heinous murderer of his family members.
SB 1.7.41 (1964): Thereafter reaching his own camp Arjuna along with his dear friend and chariotman (Sri Krishna), entrusted the murderer unto his dear wife who was lamenting for her murdered sons.
SB 1.7.42 (1964): Suta Goswami said, "Thus being brought there like an animal tied up with ropes, and silent for the matter of enacting the most inglorious murder, Aswatthama was seen by Droupadi. She is naturally good and well behaved specially on account of female nature and thus she showed due respect to a Brahmin and thus said."
SB 1.7.43 (1964): She said because of being a devoted lady, "Get him released get him released because he is a Brahmin of our spiritual master." She could not tolerate of Aswatthama's being bound up by ropes.
SB 1.7.44 (1964): One (Dronacharya) by whose mercy the military art of throwing arrows along with its confidential art of controlling etc. were learnt by you.
SB 1.7.45 (1964): He (Lord Dronacharya) is certainly still existing represented by his son and his better half wife Kripi did not undergo a Sati with him for the reason that she had his son.
SB 1.7.46 (1964): Oh the most fortunate and knower of the principles of religion it does not behave well for you to invoke the causes of grief upon the glorious family-member who is always respectful and worshipful.
SB 1.7.47 (1964): My lord do not make her, the wife of Dronachaya, cry like me. I am berieved for the death of my sons and she may not however be crying like me constantly with tears in the eyes.
SB 1.7.48 (1964): If the administrative kingly order who are unrestricted in the matter of sense control, do offend the Brahmin order and thus enrage them then the fire of that enragement burns up the whole body of such a royal family, putting them in agrievement.
SB 1.7.49 (1964): Suta Goswami said "Oh the Brahmins, the king Judhisthir fully supported the statements of the queen as they were just to the principles of religiosity, justified, full of mercy, without any duplicity, full with equity, and glorious."
SB 1.7.50 (1964): The younger brothers of the King, Nakula and Sahadeva and so also Satyaki and Arjuna including the personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna the son of Devaki and others and the ladies all were unanimous with the King.
SB 1.7.51 (1964): Bhima disagreed with them and recommended killing this culprit who had murdered the sleeping children without any purpose either for his master or for his own interest.
SB 1.7.52 (1964): Chaturbhujah or the Personality of Godhead just after hearing the words spoken by Bheema, Droupadi and others saw the face of His dear friend (Arjuna) and began to speak as if smiling.
SB 1.7.53-54 (1964): The Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna said "A friend of a Brahmin is not to be killed but if he is an aggressor he must be killed. All these rulings are there in the scriptures and you have to do things accordingly. You have also to fulfil your promise what you have had made to your dear wife as well as you have to do things to the satisfaction of Bheemasena as well as mine.
SB 1.7.55 (1964): Arjuna just at that time could understand the motive of the Lord by His equivocal orders and thus he with his sword separated the jewel on the head of Aswathama along with the hairs.
SB 1.7.56 (1964): He was already lost of all bodily lustre on account of his infanticidal action; over and above he became by far less strengthened being deprived of the jewel on the head and thus being released from the bondage of ropes he was driven out of the camp.
SB 1.7.57 (1964): Clearing of the hairs from the head, forfeiting of the wealth and driving away from the residence are the prescribed punishments for the relative of a Brahmin and there is no order for killing him by the body.
SB 1.7.58 (1964): Thereafter the sons of the Pandu along with Droupadi overwhelmed by berievement did perform all that were undertakable in the matter of the dead bodies of the relatives.