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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
4.12.144.12.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.15

Mukti· Liberation
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

मन्यमान इदं विश्वं मायारचितमात्मनि ।

अविद्यारचितस्वप्नगन्धर्वनगरोपमम् ॥ १५ ॥

manyamāna idaṁ viśvaṁ

māyā-racitam ātmani

avidyā-racita-svapna-

gandharva-nagaropamam

Translation

Śrīla Dhruva Mahārāja realized that this cosmic manifestation bewilders living entities like a dream or phantasmagoria because it is a creation of the illusory, external energy of the Supreme Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Spiritual Reality Beyond the Temporary

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja understood that the cosmic manifestation bewilders living entities like a dream. It is a creation of the Supreme Lord's illusory, external energy.

  2. 2

    A self-realized devotee knows that the material manifestation is temporary, although it appears to be lasting truth. The purport compares it to imagined cities and things seen in dreams.

  3. 3

    Behind this shadow creation is the reality of the spiritual world. Realization of the supreme truth turns a devotee's interest away from the temporary shadow.

Key points from the purport
  • A self-realized person, or a devotee, knows well that this material cosmic manifestation is a temporary, illusory representation appearing to be truth.
  • A devotee is interested in the spiritual world, not its shadow.
  • Since he has realization of the supreme truth, a devotee is not interested in this temporary shadow of truth.

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. manyamānaḥrealizing
  2. idamthis
  3. viśvamuniverse
  4. māyāby the external energy
  5. racitammanufactured
  6. ātmaniunto the living entity
  7. avidyāby illusion
  8. racitamanufactured
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • 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

What temporary attraction am I treating as though it could give lasting fulfillment?

Practice

Pause over one material desire today and reflect: “This is temporary; my interest is in spiritual reality.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Spiritual Reality Beyond the TemporaryThis 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 4.12.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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