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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 12: Dhruva Mahārāja Goes Back to Godhead

4.12.9 4.12.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.12.8inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

A turning point forDhruva Mahārāja· Return to higher purpose

अथायजत यज्ञेशं क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणै: ।

द्रव्यक्रियादेवतानां कर्म कर्मफलप्रदम् ॥ १० ॥

athāyajata yajñeśaṁ

kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ

dravya-kriyā-devatānāṁ

karma karma-phala-pradam

Translation

As long as he remained at home, Dhruva Mahārāja performed many great ceremonial sacrifices in order to please the enjoyer of all sacrifices, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Prescribed ceremonial sacrifices are especially meant to please Lord Viṣṇu, who is the objective of all such sacrifices and who awards the resultant benedictions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Work to Please the Supreme Lord

1
One should work to please the Supreme Lord; otherwise one becomes entangled in the reactions. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the actual enjoyer of all sacrifices.
2
Dhruva Mahārāja performed sacrifices and gave liberally in charity to set an example. He did not use his wealth for personal sense gratification.
3
In this Age of Kali, householders can perform saṅkīrtana-yajña by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa together and distributing prasāda. The Lord gives full facilities to anyone who desires to engage in devotional service.

Key points from the purport

According to the four divisions of varṇa and āśrama, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas are especially advised to perform great ceremonial sacrifices and to distribute their accumulated money very liberally.
Dhruva Mahārāja, as a king and ideal kṣatriya, performed many such sacrifices, giving very liberally in charity.
Although Dhruva Mahārāja was a great devotee and had nothing to do with these sacrifices, to set an example to his people he performed many sacrifices and gave all his wealth in charity.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.12.10 quotesBG 3.9

In Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) it is said, yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: one should act or work only in order to please the Supreme Lord; otherwise one becomes entangled in the resultant reactions.

The purport of SB 4.12.10 quotesBG 5.29

Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām: He is actually the enjoyer of all sacrifices.

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

Chapter 12: Dhruva Mahārāja Goes Back to Godhead

Dhruva stops fighting, continues devotional service, leaves his kingdom, and goes back to Godhead.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.12

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

athathereafter
ayajatahe worshiped
yajña-īśamthe master of sacrifices
kratubhiḥby sacrificial ceremonies
bhūrigreat
dakṣiṇaiḥby charities
dravya-kriyā-devatānāmof (sacrifices including various) paraphernalia, activities and demigods
karmathe objective
karma-phalathe result of activities
pradamwho awards

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.12
In this verse: “sense gratification”, “householders”, “wealth”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.12
In this verse: “devotional service”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.12
In this verse: “chanting”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could I use my work or resources to please the Lord rather than only myself?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, together with family members if possible.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWork to Please the Supreme LordThis 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 4.12.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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