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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
4.11.14.11.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.2

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.11.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सन्धीयमान एतस्मिन्माया गुह्यकनिर्मिता: ।

क्षिप्रं विनेशुर्विदुर क्लेशा ज्ञानोदये यथा ॥ २ ॥

sandhīyamāna etasmin

māyā guhyaka-nirmitāḥ

kṣipraṁ vineśur vidura

kleśā jñānodaye yathā

Translation

As soon as Dhruva Mahārāja joined the nārāyaṇāstra arrow to his bow, the illusion created by the Yakṣas was immediately vanquished, just as all material pains and pleasures are vanquished when one becomes fully cognizant of the self.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Dispels Illusion

  1. 1

    As soon as Dhruva Mahārāja joined the nārāyaṇāstra to his bow, the illusion created by the Yakṣas vanished.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is like the sun, and māyā is like darkness. Just as darkness is the absence of light, māyā means the absence of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Awakening Kṛṣṇa consciousness vanquishes the illusory pains and pleasures of material existence. Constant chanting of the mahā-mantra keeps us aloof from māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛṣṇa is like the sun, and māyā, or the illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa, is like darkness.
  • Kṛṣṇa consciousness and māyā are always there, side by side.
  • As soon as there is awakening of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all the illusory pains and pleasures of material existence are vanquished.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sandhīyamānewhile joining to his bow
  2. etasminthis nārāyaṇāstra
  3. māyāḥthe illusions
  4. guhyaka-nirmitāḥcreated by the Yakṣas
  5. kṣipramvery soon
  6. vineśuḥwere destroyed
  7. viduraO Vidura
  8. kleśāḥillusory pains and pleasures
  9. jñāna-udayeupon the arising of knowledge
  10. yathājust as
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”, “māyā”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “absence”

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

When material pleasure or pain absorbs me, how might I turn toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

During one pause in your day, chant the mahā-mantra instead of dwelling on a material worry or pleasure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Consciousness Dispels IllusionThis 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 4.11.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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