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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
4.12.444.12.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.45

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.12.44inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् ।

स्वर्ग्यं ध्रौव्यं सौमनस्यं प्रशस्यमघमर्षणम् ॥ ४५ ॥

dhanyaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṁ

puṇyaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ mahat

svargyaṁ dhrauvyaṁ saumanasyaṁ

praśasyam agha-marṣaṇam

Translation

By hearing the narration of Dhruva Mahārāja one can fulfill desires for wealth, reputation and increased duration of life. It is so auspicious that one can even go to a heavenly planet or attain Dhruvaloka, which was achieved by Dhruva Mahārāja, just by hearing about him. The demigods also become pleased because this narration is so glorious, and it is so powerful that it can counteract all the results of one’s sinful actions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing Benefits People With Different Desires

  1. 1

    Hearing about Dhruva Mahārāja is auspicious and can fulfill desires for wealth, reputation, long life and higher destinations. It can also counteract the results of sinful actions.

  2. 2

    Those without material desires, those with many desires and those seeking liberation are all advised to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Hearing the activities of the Lord’s pure devotee can bring the same result. The purport makes no distinction between the Lord’s activities and character and those of His pure devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Some desire to be elevated to the heavenly planets or to go to Dhruvaloka, and others want to please the demigods to get material profits.
  • Herein it is recommended by Maitreya that every one of them can hear the narration about Dhruva Mahārāja and thus get their desired goal.
  • There is no difference between the activities and character of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and those of His pure devotees.

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. dhanyambestowing wealth
  2. yaśasyambestowing reputation
  3. āyuṣyamincreasing the duration of life
  4. puṇyamsacred
  5. svasti-ayanamcreating auspiciousness
  6. mahatgreat
  7. svargyambestowing achievement of heavenly planets
  8. dhrauvyamor Dhruvaloka
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: “hearing”, “narration”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “worship”

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

Whatever my present desires, am I willing to turn toward the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Spend a few minutes reading the narration of Dhruva Mahārāja, acknowledging honestly the desires you bring to it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing Benefits People With Different DesiresThis 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 4.12.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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