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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
4.12.194.12.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.20

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

तत्रानु देवप्रवरौ चतुर्भुजौ

श्यामौ किशोरावरुणाम्बुजेक्षणौ ।

स्थिताववष्टभ्य गदां सुवाससौ

किरीटहाराङ्गदचारुकुण्डलौ ॥ २० ॥

tatrānu deva-pravarau catur-bhujau

śyāmau kiśorāv aruṇāmbujekṣaṇau

sthitāv avaṣṭabhya gadāṁ suvāsasau

kirīṭa-hārāṅgada-cāru-kuṇḍalau

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja saw two very beautiful associates of Lord Viṣṇu in the plane. They had four hands and a blackish bodily luster, they were very youthful, and their eyes were just like reddish lotus flowers. They held clubs in their hands, and they were dressed in very attractive garments with helmets and were decorated with necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Beautiful Associates of Lord Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja saw two youthful, beautiful associates of Lord Viṣṇu in the airplane. They had four hands, blackish bodily luster and eyes like reddish lotus flowers.

  2. 2

    Their fine garments and ornaments corresponded to those of Lord Viṣṇu. The inhabitants of Viṣṇuloka have bodily features like His and also hold a club, conchshell, lotus flower and disc.

  3. 3

    These two uncommon personalities came directly from Viṣṇuloka. This is the planet where Lord Viṣṇu personally lives.

Key points from the purport
  • The inhabitants of Viṣṇuloka are of the same bodily feature as Lord Viṣṇu, and they also hold club, conchshell, lotus flower and disc.
  • In this verse it is distinctly stated that they had four hands and were nicely dressed; the description of their bodily decorations corresponds exactly to that of Viṣṇu.
  • So the two uncommon personalities who descended from the airplane came directly from Viṣṇuloka, or the planet where Lord Viṣṇu lives.

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. tatrathere
  2. anuthen
  3. deva-pravarautwo very beautiful demigods
  4. catuḥ-bhujauwith four arms
  5. śyāmaublackish
  6. kiśorauquite young
  7. aruṇareddish
  8. ambujalotus flower
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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: “luster”

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

Which detail in this description helps me remember Lord Viṣṇu and His associates?

Practice

Reread the description and take one minute to remember the Lord’s associates as described here.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Beautiful Associates of Lord ViṣṇuThis 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 4.12.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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