FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.1.13

अत्रैवोदाहृत: पूर्वमितिहास: सुरर्षिणा । प्रीत्या महाक्रतौ राजन् पृच्छतेऽजातशत्रवे ॥ १३ ॥
atraivodāhṛtaḥ pūrvam
[atraivodaahritah poorvam]
itihāsaḥ surarṣiṇā
[itihaasah surarshinaa]
prītyā mahā-kratau rājan
[preetyaa mahaa-kratau raajan]
pṛcchate ’jāta-śatrave
[prichchate ’jaata-shatrave]
Word-for-word
atra — in this connection eva — certainly udāhṛtaḥ — was recited pūrvam — previously itihāsaḥ — an old story sura-ṛṣiṇā — by the great sage Nārada prītyā — with joy mahā-kratau — at the great Rājasūya sacrifice rājan — O King pṛcchate — to the inquiring ajāta-śatrave — Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, who had no enemy.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
atraivodāhṛtaḥ pūrvam
atra
in this connection
eva
certainly
udāhṛtaḥ
was recited
pūrvam
previously
itihāsaḥ surarṣiṇā
itihāsaḥ
an old story
sura-ṛṣiṇā
by the great sage Nārada
prītyā mahā-kratau rājan
prītyā
with joy
mahā-kratau
at the great Rājasūya sacrifice
rājan
O King
pṛcchate ’jāta-śatrave
pṛcchate
to the inquiring
ajāta-śatrave
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, who had no enemy.
Formerly, O King, when Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was performing the Rājasūya sacrifice, the great sage Nārada, responding to his inquiry, recited historical facts showing how the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always impartial, even when killing demons. In this regard he gave a vivid example.
Purport

This relates to how the Lord exhibited His impartiality even when killing Śiśupāla in the arena of the Rājasūya yajña performed by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Formerly, when Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was performing the Rājasūya sacrifice, Nārada, responding to his inquiry, recited a story in this connection. To clarify the meaning of his statements, Śukadeva tells a story concerning the Lord’s equal friendship with all beings.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Nārada will illustrate the Lord's impartiality through history — specifically the killing of Śiśupāla, which looked like enmity but was actually liberation. Spiritual truth is often best understood through narrative, not just abstract argument.
Reflection Questions
  • Which story from your own life looked like punishment but turned out to be mercy?
  • Whose example do you turn to when abstract teachings feel hollow?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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