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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
4.12.214.12.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.22

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

तं कृष्णपादाभिनिविष्टचेतसं

बद्धाञ्जलिं प्रश्रयनम्रकन्धरम् ।

सुनन्दनन्दावुपसृत्य सस्मितं

प्रत्यूचतु: पुष्करनाभसम्मतौ ॥ २२ ॥

taṁ kṛṣṇa-pādābhiniviṣṭa-cetasaṁ

baddhāñjaliṁ praśraya-namra-kandharam

sunanda-nandāv upasṛtya sasmitaṁ

pratyūcatuḥ puṣkaranābha-sammatau

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja was always absorbed in thinking of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. His heart was full with Kṛṣṇa. When the two confidential servants of the Supreme Lord, who were named Nanda and Sunanda, approached him, smiling happily, Dhruva stood with folded hands, bowing humbly. They then addressed him as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Oneness Means Agreeing with the Lord

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja’s heart was full of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As Nanda and Sunanda approached, he stood humbly with folded hands.

  2. 2

    Spiritual life means obedience to the will of the Supreme Lord. Since all living entities are His parts and parcels, perfect oneness means being agreeable to His orders.

  3. 3

    Human life offers a chance to learn this willing service. Anyone who seriously engages in devotional service can, in due course, attain the perfection Dhruva Mahārāja attained.

Key points from the purport
  • All living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and they are supposed to be always agreeable to the order of the Supreme Person; that is perfect oneness.
  • This human form of life is a chance to be trained to be agreeable to the orders of the Supreme Lord.
  • Simply by becoming agreeable to the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by developing love of Godhead, Dhruva got the chance to personally meet the confidential servants of Lord Viṣṇu face to face.

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. tamhim
  2. kṛṣṇaof Lord Kṛṣṇa
  3. pādaof the lotus feet
  4. abhiniviṣṭaabsorbed in thought
  5. cetasamwhose heart
  6. baddha-añjalimwith folded hands
  7. praśrayavery humbly
  8. namrabowed
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

In what part of my life can I become more willing to serve the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and expressing your willingness to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Oneness Means Agreeing with 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 4.12.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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