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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 2 · Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions
2.7.72.7.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.8

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.7.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

विद्ध: सपत्‍न्‍युदितपत्रिभिरन्ति राज्ञो

बालोऽपि सन्नुपगतस्तपसे वनानि ।

तस्मा अदाद् ध्रुवगतिं गृणते प्रसन्नो

दिव्या: स्तुवन्ति मुनयो यदुपर्यधस्तात् ॥ ८ ॥

viddhaḥ sapatny-udita-patribhir anti rājño

bālo ’pi sann upagatas tapase vanāni

tasmā adād dhruva-gatiṁ gṛṇate prasanno

divyāḥ stuvanti munayo yad upary-adhastāt

Translation

Being insulted by sharp words spoken by the co-wife of the king, even in his presence, Prince Dhruva, though only a boy, took to severe penances in the forest. And the Lord, being satisfied by his prayer, awarded him the Dhruva planet, which is worshiped by great sages, both upward and downward.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Determined Devotion Leads to Meeting the Lord

  1. 1

    Though only a boy, Dhruva turned to the Lord after being deeply insulted. He performed severe penances under the guidance of his spiritual master, Śrī Nārada Muni.

  2. 2

    Nārada initiated Dhruva into chanting oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. The Lord appeared as Pṛśnigarbha, and seeing Him face to face, Dhruva felt that all his needs were fulfilled.

  3. 3

    The Lord awarded Dhruva a fixed Vaikuṇṭha planet that remains even at the devastation of the material world. The purport emphasizes serious determination and the guidance of a pure devotee as the way to attain the perfection of meeting the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • When he was only five years old, Prince Dhruva, a great devotee and the son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, was sitting on the lap of his father.
  • Prince Dhruva was initiated by Nārada into chanting the hymn composed of eighteen letters, namely oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya, and Lord Vāsudeva incarnated Himself as Pṛśnigarbha, the Personality of Godhead with four hands, and awarded the prince a specific planet above the seven stars.
  • The planet awarded to Prince Dhruva Mahārāja is a fixed Vaikuṇṭha planet, installed in the material atmosphere by the will of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Uncertainty → Awe. The scale of reality widens dramatically.

Chapters 4–7 of Canto 2: The creation, cosmic Person and incarnations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

Brahmā recounts the Lord’s incarnations and explains that unalloyed surrender enables one to understand Him.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viddhaḥpinched by
  2. sapatnia co-wife
  3. uditauttered by
  4. patribhiḥby sharp words
  5. antijust before
  6. rājñaḥof the king
  7. bālaḥa boy
  8. apialthough
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I learn from Dhruva’s determination to seek the Lord under spiritual guidance?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute attentively repeating oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 2.7's connections

Live this todayDetermined Devotion Leads to Meeting the LordThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 2.7.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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