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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 11: Svāyambhuva Manu Advises Dhruva Mahārāja to Stop Fighting
4.11.114.11.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Manusince 4.11.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स त्वं हरेरनुध्यातस्तत्पुंसामपि सम्मत: ।

कथं त्ववद्यं कृतवाननुशिक्षन् सतां व्रतम् ॥ १२ ॥

sa tvaṁ harer anudhyātas

tat-puṁsām api sammataḥ

kathaṁ tv avadyaṁ kṛtavān

anuśikṣan satāṁ vratam

Translation

Because you are a pure devotee of the Lord, the Lord is always thinking of you, and you are also recognized by all His confidential devotees. Your life is meant for exemplary behavior. I am therefore surprised — why have you undertaken such an abominable task?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Let Devotion Show Through Exemplary Behavior

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja was accustomed to always thinking of the Lord. The Lord reciprocally always thinks of His pure devotees.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee knows nothing beyond the Lord, and the Lord knows nothing beyond His pure devotee. This is their close, reciprocal relationship.

  3. 3

    Recognized by the Lord’s pure devotees, Dhruva was meant to act so that others could learn from him. Manu therefore questioned his killing of so many faultless Yakṣas.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva Mahārāja was a pure devotee and was accustomed to always thinking of the Lord.
  • Reciprocally, the Lord always thinks of those pure devotees who think of Him only, twenty-four hours a day.
  • As a pure devotee does not know anything beyond the Lord, so the Lord does not know anything beyond His pure devotee.

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 11: Svāyambhuva Manu Advises Dhruva Mahārāja to Stop Fighting

Svāyambhuva Manu urges Dhruva to stop killing innocent Yakṣas and turn his attention to the Supreme Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.11
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat person
  2. tvamyou
  3. hareḥby the Supreme Lord
  4. anudhyātaḥbeing always remembered
  5. tatHis
  6. puṁsāmby the devotees
  7. apialso
  8. sammataḥesteemed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotees”

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 example does my behavior offer to someone learning about devotion?

Practice

Before one interaction today, pause to remember the Lord and choose behavior that others could learn from.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLet Devotion Show Through Exemplary BehaviorThis 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 4.11.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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