FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.51

तत्राहामर्षितो भीमस्तस्य श्रेयान् वध: स्मृत: । न भर्तुर्नात्मनश्चार्थे योऽहन् सुप्तान् शिशून् वृथा ॥ ५१ ॥
tatrāhāmarṣito bhīmas
[tatraahaamarshito bheemas]
tasya śreyān vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ
[tasya shreyaan vadhah smritah]
na bhartur nātmanaś cārthe
[na bhartur naatmanash chaarthe]
yo ’han suptān śiśūn vṛthā
[yo ’han suptaan shishoon vrithaa]
tatra — thereupon āha — said amarṣitaḥ — in an angry mood bhīmaḥ — Bhīma tasya — his śreyān — ultimate good vadhaḥ — killing smṛtaḥ — recorded na — not bhartuḥ — of the master na — nor ātmanaḥ — of his own self ca — and arthe — for the sake of yaḥ — one who ahan — killed suptān — sleeping śiśūn — children vṛthā — without purpose.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tatrāhāmarṣito bhīmas
tatra
thereupon
āha
said
amarṣitaḥ
in an angry mood
bhīmaḥ
Bhīma
tasya śreyān vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ
tasya
his
śreyān
ultimate good
vadhaḥ
killing
smṛtaḥ
recorded
na bhartur nātmanaś cārthe
na
not
bhartuḥ
of the master
na
nor
ātmanaḥ
of his own self
ca
and
arthe
for the sake of
yaḥ
one who
ahan
killed
yo ’han suptān śiśūn vṛthā
suptān
sleeping
śiśūn
children
vṛthā
without purpose.
Bhīma, however, angrily disagreed with them and recommended killing this culprit, who had murdered sleeping children for no purpose and for neither his nor his master’s interest.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
At that time angry Bhīma spoke. “He who has killed the sleeping children without purpose, without benefit to his master or to himself, should be killed.”
Only Bhīma disagreed, recommending death for the murderer of sleeping children. There is room for the dissenter who insists on the seriousness of the crime. Both mercy and justice need voices.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is my voice the necessary 'Bhīma' refusing to let an offense be minimized?
  • When have I confused leniency with wisdom?
📝 My note

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