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Study paths

Eight routes that follow one question through several lives. Read each life's key moment in order, then sit with the question, alone or with a class.

The question of this path

What can be purified after a painful mistake or disappointment?

Canto 12Canto 3Canto 4Canto 5Canto 6Canto 7Canto 8Canto 9Canto 10Canto 1112Citraketu / Vṛtrāsura · SB 6.14 · The death of his sonCitraketu / Vṛtrāsura · SB 6.15 · Saintly interventionCitraketu / Vṛtrāsura · SB 6.16 · Vision and transformationCitraketu / Vṛtrāsura · SB 6.17 · A curse and composureCitraketu / Vṛtrāsura · SB 6.11 · Vṛtrāsura’s prayerAjāmila · SB 6.1 · Loss of disciplineAjāmila · SB 6.1 · Fear of deathAjāmila · SB 6.2 · The meaning becomes clearAjāmila · SB 6.2 · Practice and liberationKing Rahūgaṇa · SB 5.10 · The king commandsKing Rahūgaṇa · SB 5.11 · An unexpected answerKing Rahūgaṇa · SB 5.12 · Humility awakensKing Rahūgaṇa · SB 5.13 · Learning continues1. SB 4.8 · Humiliation2. SB 4.8 · Guidance from Sunīti and Nārada3. SB 4.9 · Vision of the Lord4. SB 4.12 · The aftermath of anger5. SB 4.12 · Return to higher purposeSB 4.9

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Dhruva Mahārāja

From rejection to purified desire

A life that changes
The test
What happens when hurt becomes the engine of ambition?
The turn
After rigorous practice, personal encounter with the Lord transforms his original desire.
What it teaches
Even a mixed motive can be purified through sincere devotional engagement.

Key moment · Purified desire

Vision of the Lord

After austerity, Dhruva sees the Supreme Lord and recognizes the lesser value of his former wish.

In the verse · SB 4.9.27

“Despite having achieved the desired result of his determination by worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord, Dhruva Mahārāja was not very pleased. Thus he returned to his home.”

All 5 moments of Dhruva Mahārāja

Each moment's short description, the lessons, questions and pairings are study aids drawn from the cited chapter, not words of the scripture. The verse shown with each moment is Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation, exactly; his purport is always the final word.

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