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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
4.12.184.12.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.19

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

स ददर्श विमानाग्र्यं नभसोऽवतरद् ध्रुव: ।

विभ्राजयद्दश दिशो राकापतिमिवोदितम् ॥ १९ ॥

sa dadarśa vimānāgryaṁ

nabhaso ’vatarad dhruvaḥ

vibhrājayad daśa diśo

rākāpatim ivoditam

Translation

As soon as the symptoms of his liberation were manifest, he saw a very beautiful airplane coming down from the sky, as if the brilliant full moon were coming down, illuminating all the ten directions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Awakens Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja saw a beautiful transcendental airplane descending, illuminating all ten directions like the full moon.

  2. 2

    Freed from the material concept of life, he was situated in transcendental knowledge. His perception of this airplane was beyond ordinary direct or indirect knowledge.

  3. 3

    Such spiritual knowledge is a special favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can gradually rise to this platform by advancing in devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • When one surpasses the stage of acquiring knowledge by the descending process, he is immediately situated on the transcendental platform.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja, being liberated from the material concept of life, was situated in transcendental knowledge and could perceive the presence of a transcendental airplane which was as brilliant as the full moonlight.
  • One can, however, rise to this platform of knowledge by the gradual process of advancing in devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. dadarśasaw
  3. vimānaan airplane
  4. agryamvery beautiful
  5. nabhasaḥfrom the sky
  6. avataratdescending
  7. dhruvaḥDhruva Mahārāja
  8. vibhrājayatilluminating
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 4.12

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “favor”

  • 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 approach spiritual understanding as something received through devotional service and the Lord’s favor?

Practice

Read this translation slowly once more, then spend a minute reflecting on spiritual knowledge as the Lord’s favor.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Awakens Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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 4.12.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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