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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
4.12.204.12.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.21

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

विज्ञाय तावुत्तमगायकिङ्करा-

वभ्युत्थित: साध्वसविस्मृतक्रम: ।

ननाम नामानि गृणन्मधुद्विष:

पार्षत्प्रधानाविति संहताञ्जलि: ॥ २१ ॥

vijñāya tāv uttamagāya-kiṅkarāv

abhyutthitaḥ sādhvasa-vismṛta-kramaḥ

nanāma nāmāni gṛṇan madhudviṣaḥ

pārṣat-pradhānāv iti saṁhatāñjaliḥ

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja, seeing that these uncommon personalities were direct servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately stood up. But, being puzzled, in hastiness he forgot how to receive them in the proper way. Therefore he simply offered obeisances with folded hands and chanted and glorified the holy names of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Chanting Pleases the Lord

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja recognized the Lord’s servants and immediately stood up. Although he forgot the proper way to receive them, he bowed with folded hands and glorified the Lord’s holy names.

  2. 2

    Simply by sincerely chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, one can please Lord Viṣṇu and His associates. Chanting is perfect even when one does not know the proper formalities.

  3. 3

    A devotee chants in both danger and happiness. The holy name can be chanted without limitation.

Key points from the purport
  • Chanting of the holy names of the Lord is perfect in every way.
  • When Dhruva Mahārāja saw the Viṣṇudūtas, the direct associates of Lord Viṣṇu, four-handed and nicely decorated, he could understand who they were, but for the time being he was puzzled.
  • But simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, he could satisfy the uncommon guests who had all of a sudden arrived before him.

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. vijñāyaafter understanding
  2. tauthem
  3. uttama-gāyaof Lord Viṣṇu (of excellent renown)
  4. kiṅkarautwo servants
  5. abhyutthitaḥstood up
  6. sādhvasaby being puzzled
  7. vismṛtaforgot
  8. kramaḥproper behavior
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “chanted”, “glorified”, “chanting”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “danger”

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

When I feel unsure how to serve the Lord, can I turn sincerely to His holy name?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra sincerely today, whether your present circumstances feel happy or difficult.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.12's connections

Live this todaySincere Chanting Pleases the 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 4.12.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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