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

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 10: Dhruva Mahārāja’s Fight with the Yakṣas
4.9.674.10.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.10.1

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.10.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

प्रजापतेर्दुहितरं शिशुमारस्य वै ध्रुव: । उपयेमे भ्रमिं नाम तत्सुतौ कल्पवत्सरौ ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

prajāpater duhitaraṁ

śiśumārasya vai dhruvaḥ

upayeme bhramiṁ nāma

tat-sutau kalpa-vatsarau

Translation

The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, thereafter Dhruva Mahārāja married the daughter of Prajāpati Śiśumāra, whose name was Bhrami, and two sons named Kalpa and Vatsara were born of her.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Give Spiritual Realization First Place

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja married Bhrami, the daughter of Prajāpati Śiśumāra. Their two sons were Kalpa and Vatsara.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Uttānapāda was a rājarṣi, a saintly king. Although busy with government duties, he was very anxious for self-realization.

  3. 3

    Once Dhruva Mahārāja was worthy to govern, his father left home for self-realization rather than waiting to arrange his marriage. The purport places spiritual realization above all other important work.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears that Dhruva Mahārāja married after being installed on the throne of his father and after the departure of his father to the forest for self-realization.
  • Therefore as soon as his son Dhruva Mahārāja was quite worthy to take charge of the government, he took this opportunity to leave home, just like his son, who, without fear, left home for self-realization, even at the age of five years.
  • Mahārāja Uttānapāda knew very well that to get his son Dhruva Mahārāja married was not so important that it should take preference to his going away to the forest for self-realization.

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

Rejection → Transformed aspiration. A child's wounded pride is purified by divine encounter.

Chapters 8–12 of Canto 4: Dhruva seeks and encounters the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Dhruva Mahārāja’s Fight with the Yakṣas

After Uttama is killed by a Yakṣa, Dhruva fights the Yakṣas and faces their illusions.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya continued
  2. prajāpateḥof the Prajāpati
  3. duhitaramdaughter
  4. śiśumārasyaof Śiśumāra
  5. vaicertainly
  6. dhruvaḥDhruva Mahārāja
  7. upayememarried
  8. bhramimBhrami
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.10

    In this verse: “king”, “government”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.10

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.10

    In this verse: “father”

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

Do I give spiritual realization a real place among my important duties?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today for spiritual study before taking up a less important task.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGive Spiritual Realization First PlaceThis 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 4.10.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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