Dhruva Mahārāja Returns Home

The Lord grants Dhruva’s desire; Dhruva regrets his former hostility and returns to his family.

Themes of SB 4.9Dainya5 Śuddhi5 Bhakti5 Śaraṇāgati4 with indexed passages

Connected storiesThe four KumārasLord Ṛṣabhadeva

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

Turning points hereDhruva Mahārāja· Vision of the Lord

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Dhruva Mahārāja, Nārada, King Uttānapāda, Uttama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

The story · When Dhruva tried to sit on King Uttānapāda’s lap, his father did not warmly welcome him. Dhruva left home, and Nārada instructed him in worship, chanting, and meditation on the Lord’s activities. With great determination, Dhruva practiced austerity and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord promised to fulfill his ambitious desire, but Dhruva later regretted having regarded his brother as an enemy. Returning home, he and Uttama embraced with tears of affection.

What it teaches · Worship of the Lord’s lotus feet can fulfill one’s desires. Dhruva’s regret also shows the illusion of treating family members as enemies.

SB 4.8.41 SB 4.9.19 SB 4.9.33 Read chapter 8 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

The four Kumāras

SB 3.15–16 · The doorkeepers’ fall SB 4.21–23 · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service SB 11.13 · The Lord teaches as Haṁsa

What it teaches · The Lord’s conduct shows how dearly He values the brāhmaṇas and how seriously He regards disrespect toward them. Even while facing punishment, the doorkeepers sought the shelter of remembering Him.

Saintly persons like Sanaka, Sanātana and Lord Brahmā were able to see the entire universe, by the mercy of the Lord, through knowledge of the Lord.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.9.8 (Text 8)

Even great saintly persons like the four celebrated brahmacārīs headed by Sanandana — Sanandana, Sanaka, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra — practiced the yoga system for many, many births and remained in trance before getting the opportunity to see the Supreme Lord face to face.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.9.30 (Text 30)

Read the story in SB 3.15–16

Lord Ṛṣabhadeva

SB 5.3–4 · The Lord becomes Nābhi’s son SB 5.5–6 · Ṛṣabhadeva teaches by words and example

What it teaches · The Supreme Personality of Godhead is without an equal and is merciful to His devotees. The priests approached Him as eternal servants, asking Him to accept their service.

Ātmā means “the soul,” and anātmya means “without any conception of the soul.” Śrīla Ṛṣabhadeva instructed his sons that unless a human being comes to the point of understanding the ātmā, or spiritual position, whatever he does is ignorance, and this brings…
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.9.31 (Text 31)

Read the story in SB 5.3–4

Other Bhāgavatam verses Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes here

Same themes in another canto

SB 8.21–23Bali offers himself to the LordBhaktiDainyaŚaraṇāgati

Both chapters carry these themes strongly in the themes map, an editorial reading of each chapter's story.

Next in Learn · 4 of 11 · 5 minStudy a verseOne verse with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and three study points from the purport.Back · LearnPreface & Introduction