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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 10: Dhruva Mahārāja’s Fight with the Yakṣas
4.10.104.10.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.10.11-12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.10.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तत: परिघनिस्त्रिंशै: प्रासशूलपरश्वधै: । शक्त्यृष्टिभिर्भुशुण्डीभिश्चित्रवाजै: शरैरपि ॥ ११ ॥ अभ्यवर्षन् प्रकुपिता: सरथं सहसारथिम् । इच्छन्तस्तत्प्रतीकर्तुमयुतानां त्रयोदश ॥ १२ ॥

tataḥ parigha-nistriṁśaiḥ

prāsaśūla-paraśvadhaiḥ

śakty-ṛṣṭibhir bhuśuṇḍībhiś

citra-vājaiḥ śarair api

abhyavarṣan prakupitāḥ

sarathaṁ saha-sārathim

icchantas tat pratīkartum

ayutānāṁ trayodaśa

Translation

The Yakṣa soldiers were 130,000 strong, all greatly angry and all desiring to defeat the wonderful activities of Dhruva Mahārāja. With full strength they showered upon Mahārāja Dhruva, along with his chariot and charioteer, various types of feathered arrows, parighas [iron bludgeons], nistriṁśas [swords], prāsaśūlas [tridents], paraśvadhas [lances], śaktis [pikes], ṛṣṭis [spears] and bhuśuṇḍī weapons.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dhruva Faces an Overwhelming Attack

  1. 1

    The Yakṣa soldiers numbered 130,000. They were greatly angry and wanted to defeat the wonderful activities of Dhruva Mahārāja.

  2. 2

    They attacked with full strength, showering him with arrows and many other kinds of weapons.

  3. 3

    Their attack covered not only Dhruva Mahārāja but also his chariot and charioteer.

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. tataḥthereupon
  2. parighawith iron bludgeons
  3. nistriṁśaiḥand swords
  4. prāsa-śūlawith tridents
  5. paraśvadhaiḥand lances
  6. śaktiwith pikes
  7. ṛṣṭibhiḥand spears
  8. bhuśuṇḍībhiḥwith bhuśuṇḍī weapons
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

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 helps you appreciate the scale of the opposition Dhruva Mahārāja faced?

Practice

Reread the translation and identify who and what were included in the Yakṣas’ attack.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDhruva Faces an Overwhelming AttackThis 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 4.10.11-12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.