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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 11: Svāyambhuva Manu Advises Dhruva Mahārāja to Stop Fighting
4.11.84.11.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.11.9

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

नन्वेकस्यापराधेन प्रसङ्गाद् बहवो हता: ।

भ्रातुर्वधाभितप्तेन त्वयाङ्ग भ्रातृवत्सल ॥ ९ ॥

nanv ekasyāparādhena

prasaṅgād bahavo hatāḥ

bhrātur vadhābhitaptena

tvayāṅga bhrātṛ-vatsala

Translation

My dear son, it has been proved that you are very much affectionate towards your brother and are greatly aggrieved at his being killed by the Yakṣas, but just consider: for one Yakṣa’s offense, you have killed many others, who are innocent.

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.

Grief Does Not Justify Harming the Innocent

  1. 1

    Manu acknowledged Dhruva Mahārāja’s deep affection for his brother.

  2. 2

    He also recognized Dhruva’s great grief over his brother’s death at the hands of a Yakṣa.

  3. 3

    Still, Manu asked him to consider that many innocent Yakṣas had been killed for the offense of only one.

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. nanucertainly
  2. ekasyaof one (Yakṣa)
  3. aparādhenawith the offense
  4. prasaṅgātbecause of their association
  5. bahavaḥmany
  6. hatāḥhave been killed
  7. bhrātuḥof your brother
  8. vadhaby the death
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “offense”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.11

    In this verse: “death”

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 I am grieving or hurt, do I direct blame toward people who have done nothing wrong?

Practice

Name one hurt you are carrying, and remind yourself not to blame anyone who was not responsible.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGrief Does Not Justify Harming the InnocentThis 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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