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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
4.12.454.12.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.46

Mukti· Liberation
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

श्रुत्वैतच्छ्रद्धयाभीक्ष्णमच्युतप्रियचेष्टितम् ।

भवेद्भक्तिर्भगवति यया स्यात्‍क्‍लेशसङ्‌क्षय: ॥ ४६ ॥

śrutvaitac chraddhayābhīkṣṇam

acyuta-priya-ceṣṭitam

bhaved bhaktir bhagavati

yayā syāt kleśa-saṅkṣayaḥ

Translation

Anyone who hears the narration of Dhruva Mahārāja, and who repeatedly tries with faith and devotion to understand his pure character, attains the pure devotional platform and executes pure devotional service. By such activities one can diminish the threefold miserable conditions of material life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Repeated Hearing Awakens Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja’s character and reputation are glorious because he is dear to Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Repeatedly hearing about his pure character with faith and devotion leads to pure devotional service. Hearing about the Lord’s dear devotees is both pleasing and spiritually powerful.

  3. 3

    Reading this chapter again and again offers the chance to become a great devotee. Such devotion brings an end to the miserable conditions of materialistic life.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva Mahārāja’s character and reputation are great because he is very dear to Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • If one simply reads over and over again about Dhruva Mahārāja by hearing and reading this chapter, one can attain the highest perfection of life in any way he desires; most importantly, he gets the chance to become a great devotee.
  • To become a great devotee means to finish all miserable conditions of materialistic life.

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. śrutvāby hearing
  2. etatthis
  3. śraddhayāwith faith
  4. abhīkṣṇamrepeatedly
  5. acyutato the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. priyadear
  7. ceṣṭitamactivities
  8. bhavetdevelops
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “materialistic”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “narration”, “hearing”

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 can I make repeated hearing a faithful practice rather than a hurried task?

Practice

Reread one passage about Dhruva Mahārāja today, giving careful attention to his devotional character.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRepeated Hearing Awakens Pure DevotionThis 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.

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