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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
4.11.274.11.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Manusince 4.11.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

य: पञ्चवर्षो जननीं त्वं विहाय

मातु: सपत्‍न्या वचसा भिन्नमर्मा ।

वनं गतस्तपसा प्रत्यगक्ष-

माराध्य लेभे मूर्ध्नि पदं त्रिलोक्या: ॥ २८ ॥

yaḥ pañca-varṣo jananīṁ tvaṁ vihāya

mātuḥ sapatnyā vacasā bhinna-marmā

vanaṁ gatas tapasā pratyag-akṣam

ārādhya lebhe mūrdhni padaṁ tri-lokyāḥ

Translation

My dear Dhruva, at the age of only five years you were very grievously afflicted by the words of your mother’s co-wife, and you very boldly gave up the protection of your mother and went to the forest to engage in the yogic process for realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a result of this you have already achieved the topmost position in all the three worlds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Act as a Surrendered Soul

  1. 1

    At only five years old, Dhruva Mahārāja left for the forest after being deeply hurt by the words of his mother’s co-wife. He sought realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Within six months of meditating upon the Supreme Lord, Dhruva saw Him face to face. Manu regarded him as the glory of his family and of all human society.

  3. 3

    Because Dhruva had already surrendered to the Supreme Godhead, he was especially requested not to act in a way unbefitting a surrendered soul.

Key points from the purport
  • Manu was very proud that Dhruva Mahārāja was one of the descendants in his family, because at the age of only five years Dhruva began meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and within six months he was able to see the Supreme Lord face to face.
  • Not only is Dhruva Mahārāja the glory of the family of Svāyambhuva Manu, but he is the glory of the entire human society.
  • Because Dhruva Mahārāja had already surrendered to the Supreme Godhead, he was especially requested not to do anything unbefitting a surrendered soul.

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. yaḥone who
  2. pañca-varṣaḥfive years old
  3. jananīmmother
  4. tvamyou
  5. vihāyaleaving aside
  6. mātuḥof the mother
  7. sa-patnyāḥof the co-wife
  8. vacasāby the words
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “mother’s”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “protection”

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

Does my response to hurt reflect my wish to live as a surrendered servant of the Lord?

Practice

Before responding to one hurtful remark or memory today, pause and ask whether your response befits a surrendered soul.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAct as a Surrendered SoulThis 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.

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