Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 41

Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā

Devanagari script

अथोपेत्य स्वशिबिरं गोविन्दप्रियसारथि: । न्यवेदयत्तं प्रियायै शोचन्त्या आत्मजान् हतान् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

Sau khi về đến trại của mình, Arjuna, cùng với người bạn thân thiết và cũng là người đánh xe [Śrī Kṛṣṇa], đã giao tên sát nhân cho người vợ yêu quý của mình, người đang than khóc cho những đứa con bị giết hại.

Synonyms

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अथ अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तर/आरम्भसूचक अव्यय)

• upetya: having gone/approached
• upetya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (इ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• sva-śibiram: his own camp
• sva-śibiram: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (स्व) + śibira (शिबिर)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'own camp'

• govinda-priya-sārathiḥ: Govinda’s dear charioteer
• govinda-priya-sārathiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (गोविन्द) + priya (प्रिय) + sārathi (सारथि)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'the charioteer dear to Govinda'

• nyavedayat: informed/announced
• nyavedayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (विद् धातु, 'to inform')
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• priyāyai: to his beloved (wife)
• priyāyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रिया प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śocantyāḥ: of (her) who was lamenting
• śocantyāḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śuc (शुच् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies priyāyāḥ (understood)

• ātma-jān: (her) sons
• ātma-jān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्) + ja (ज, 'born')
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'own sons'

• hatān: killed
• hatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies ātma-jān

Purport

The transcendental relation of Arjuna with Kṛṣṇa is of the dearmost friendship. In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord Himself has claimed Arjuna as His dearmost friend. Every living being is thus related with the Supreme Lord by some sort of affectionate relation, either as servant or as friend or as parent or as an object of conjugal love. Everyone thus can enjoy the company of the Lord in the spiritual realm if he at all desires and sincerely tries for it by the process of bhakti-yoga.

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Govinda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Draupadī

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.41 describe about Arjuna and Draupadi?

It narrates that Arjuna returned to the Pāṇḍava camp and informed Draupadī—who was mourning her slain sons—about the situation, with Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) as his beloved charioteer.

Why is Krishna referred to as Govinda and highlighted as Arjuna’s charioteer here?

The verse emphasizes Kṛṣṇa’s intimate role as Arjuna’s sārathi, underscoring divine guidance and protection in the aftermath of war and during the pursuit of justice.

How can this verse be applied in modern life when facing grief and injustice?

It teaches to communicate truthfully and act with dharma-guided support—seeking wise counsel and divine remembrance while responding to tragedy without losing moral clarity.