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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.10.22

Who is speaking and story frame

इति ब्रुवंश्चित्ररथ: स्वसारथिं

यत्त: परेषां प्रतियोगशङ्कित: ।

शुश्राव शब्दं जलधेरिवेरितं

नभस्वतो दिक्षु रजोऽन्वद‍ृश्यत ॥ २२ ॥

iti bruvaṁś citra-rathaḥ sva-sārathiṁ

yattaḥ pareṣāṁ pratiyoga-śaṅkitaḥ

śuśrāva śabdaṁ jaladher iveritaṁ

nabhasvato dikṣu rajo ’nvadṛśyata

Translation

In the meantime, while Dhruva Mahārāja, doubtful of his mystic enemies, was talking with his charioteer, they heard a tremendous sound, as if the whole ocean were there, and they found that from the sky a great dust storm was coming over them from all directions.

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.

Uncertainty Amid a Gathering Storm

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja remained doubtful of his mystic enemies and was talking with his charioteer.

  2. 2

    They heard a tremendous sound, as though the whole ocean were present.

  3. 3

    They then saw a great dust storm coming from the sky over them from all directions.

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. itithus
  2. bruvantalking
  3. citra-rathaḥDhruva Mahārāja, whose chariot was very beautiful
  4. sva-sārathimto his charioteer
  5. yattaḥbeing on guard
  6. pareṣāmfrom his enemies
  7. pratiyogacounterattack
  8. śaṅkitaḥbeing apprehensive
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.10

    In this verse: “heard”

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 do the sound and the approaching dust storm help you notice about Dhruva Mahārāja’s situation?

Practice

Read the translation slowly, noting separately what Dhruva Mahārāja and his charioteer heard and what they saw.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUncertainty Amid a Gathering StormThis 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 4.10.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.