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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
4.11.44.11.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

स तान् पृषत्कैरभिधावतो मृधे

निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोधरोदरान् ।

निनाय लोकं परमर्कमण्डलं

व्रजन्ति निर्भिद्य यमूर्ध्वरेतस: ॥ ५ ॥

sa tān pṛṣatkair abhidhāvato mṛdhe

nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodharodarān

nināya lokaṁ param arka-maṇḍalaṁ

vrajanti nirbhidya yam ūrdhva-retasaḥ

Translation

When Dhruva Mahārāja saw the Yakṣas coming forward, he immediately took his arrows and cut the enemies to pieces. Separating their arms, legs, heads and bellies from their bodies, he delivered the Yakṣas to the planetary system which is situated above the sun globe and which is attainable only by first-class brahmacārīs, who have never discharged their semen.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Gives Lasting Liberation

  1. 1

    Although Dhruva Mahārāja killed the Yakṣas indiscriminately, they attained Satyaloka. The purport explains that being killed by the Lord or His devotee can benefit the person killed.

  2. 2

    Pure brahmacārīs who never discharge semen can attain Satyaloka through their celibacy. Yet even those who reach Brahmaloka must return to material existence.

  3. 3

    Actual liberation is attained only through devotional service, which takes one to the spiritual world, beyond return. Without Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, no one can have liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • The Yakṣas were killed indiscriminately by Dhruva Mahārāja, but they attained the planetary system attainable only for brahmacārīs who never discharged their semen.
  • An important word in this verse is ūrdhva-retasaḥ, which means brahmacārīs who have never discharged semen.
  • Therefore actual mukti, or liberation, can be attained only by devotional service, because by devotional service one can go above Brahmaloka, or to the spiritual world, wherefrom he never comes back.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.11.5 quotesBG 8.16

But in the Bhagavad-gītā (8.16) the Lord says that even if one goes up to Brahmaloka, he again comes back (ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino ’rjuna).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. saḥhe (Dhruva Mahārāja)
  2. tānall the Yakṣas
  3. pṛṣatkaiḥby his arrows
  4. abhidhāvataḥcoming forward
  5. mṛdhein the battlefield
  6. nikṛttabeing separated
  7. bāhuarms
  8. ūruthighs
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I seeking temporary elevation, or a lasting relationship with the Lord through devotional service?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa asking for His mercy to engage in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Gives Lasting LiberationThis 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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