1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.12.364.12.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.37

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.12.28inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

शान्ता: समद‍ृश: शुद्धा: सर्वभूतानुरञ्जना: ।

यान्त्यञ्जसाच्युतपदमच्युतप्रियबान्धवा: ॥ ३७ ॥

śāntāḥ sama-dṛśaḥ śuddhāḥ

sarva-bhūtānurañjanāḥ

yānty añjasācyuta-padam

acyuta-priya-bāndhavāḥ

Translation

Persons who are peaceful, equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with devotees of the Lord; they alone can very easily achieve the perfection of going back home, back to Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Peace Through Surrender and Devotee Association

  1. 1

    A devotee is peaceful because he has no demands for personal sense gratification. He depends on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and dedicates himself to His service.

  2. 2

    A devotee sees every living entity as part of the Supreme Lord, rather than judging by the body. These spiritual qualities develop in the association of devotees.

  3. 3

    Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra purifies a person inside and outside. Peaceful, purified devotees who please other living entities can easily go back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Without the association of devotees, one cannot advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • Devotees are dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only dear to devotees.
  • Persons in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotees of the Lord, can please everyone, as is evident in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

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. śāntāḥpeaceful
  2. sama-dṛśaḥequipoised
  3. śuddhāḥcleansed, purified
  4. sarvaall
  5. bhūtaliving entities
  6. anurañjanāḥpleasing
  7. yāntigo
  8. añjasāeasily
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “purified”, “cleansed”, “purifies”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotee”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “friendship”

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

How could depending on the Lord’s mercy help me become more peaceful?

Practice

Spend a few minutes chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra with attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPeace Through Surrender and Devotee AssociationThis 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 4.12.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories