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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 12: Dhruva Mahārāja Goes Back to Godhead
4.12.124.12.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.13

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

षट्‌त्रिंशद्वर्षसाहस्रं शशास क्षितिमण्डलम् ।

भोगै: पुण्यक्षयं कुर्वन्नभोगैरशुभक्षयम् ॥ १३ ॥

ṣaṭ-triṁśad-varṣa-sāhasraṁ

śaśāsa kṣiti-maṇḍalam

bhogaiḥ puṇya-kṣayaṁ kurvann

abhogair aśubha-kṣayam

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja ruled over this planet for thirty-six thousand years; he diminished the reactions of pious activities by enjoyment, and by practicing austerities he diminished inauspicious reactions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Continue Devotion Through Happiness and Distress

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja ruled for thirty-six thousand years. Through enjoyment he diminished the results of pious activities, and through austerities he diminished inauspicious reactions.

  2. 2

    A devotee sees prosperity and distress as the diminishing of past reactions. Rather than pursuing enjoyment or being disturbed by distress, the devotee desires to execute devotional service.

  3. 3

    Devotional service should remain unchecked by material happiness or distress. Austerities and restraint from sinful activities purify the devotee from past impious reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • That Dhruva Mahārāja ruled over the planet for thirty-six thousand years means that he was present in the Satya-yuga because in the Satya-yuga people used to live for one hundred thousand years.
  • When he is prosperous he knows, “I am diminishing the results of my pious activities,” and when he is in distress he knows, “I am diminishing the reactions of my impious activities.”
  • Thus he becomes purified from the reactions of his past impious life, and because he engages in devotional service, which is the most pious activity, he enjoys life without separate endeavor.

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 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ṣaṭ-triṁśatthirty-six
  2. varṣayears
  3. sāhasramthousand
  4. śaśāsaruled
  5. kṣiti-maṇḍalamthe earth planet
  6. bhogaiḥby enjoyment
  7. puṇyaof reactions of pious activities
  8. kṣayamdiminution
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.12

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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “purify”, “sinful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.12

    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

Do I allow comfort or difficulty to interrupt my devotional service?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service and complete it today, whether your circumstances feel pleasant or difficult.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayContinue Devotion Through Happiness and DistressThis 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 4.12.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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