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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
4.12.484.12.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.12.49-50

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

पौर्णमास्यां सिनीवाल्यां द्वादश्यां श्रवणेऽथवा ।

दिनक्षये व्यतीपाते सङ्‌क्रमेऽर्कदिनेऽपि वा ॥ ४९ ॥

श्रावयेच्छ्रद्दधानानां तीर्थपादपदाश्रय: ।

नेच्छंस्तत्रात्मनात्मानं सन्तुष्ट इति सिध्यति ॥ ५० ॥

paurṇamāsyāṁ sinīvālyāṁ

dvādaśyāṁ śravaṇe ’thavā

dina-kṣaye vyatīpāte

saṅkrame ’rkadine ’pi vā

śrāvayec chraddadhānānāṁ

tīrtha-pāda-padāśrayaḥ

necchaṁs tatrātmanātmānaṁ

santuṣṭa iti sidhyati

Translation

Persons who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord should recite this narration of Dhruva Mahārāja without taking remuneration. Specifically, recitation is recommended on the full-moon or dark-moon day, on the day after Ekādaśī, on the appearance of the Śravaṇa star, at the end of a particular tithi, or the occasion of Vyatīpāta, at the end of the month, or on Sunday. Such recitation should of course be performed before a favorable audience. When recitation is performed this way, without professional motive, the reciter and audience become perfect.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recite With Surrender, Not for Profit

  1. 1

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam recitation must not be a business or a profession for earning a livelihood. The reciter should be fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and depend on Him for maintenance.

  2. 2

    The audience must be faithfully receptive to the Bhāgavata message. Recitation is especially recommended on specified occasions, including the full-moon day, the day after Ekādaśī and Sunday.

  3. 3

    When recitation is performed properly, the reciter gains perfect satisfaction, and the Lord is pleased with both reciter and audience. Both become liberated from material bondage through hearing.

Key points from the purport
  • Only one who is completely surrendered at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, depending fully on Him for personal maintenance or even for maintenance of his family, can attain perfection by recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is full of narrations of the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees.
  • The process can be summarized as follows: the audience must be faithfully receptive to the Bhāgavata message, and the reciter should completely depend on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • If done in the right way, not only does the reciter achieve perfect satisfaction, but the Lord also is very satisfied with the reciter and the audience, and thus both are liberated from material bondage simply by the process of hearing.

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. paurṇamāsyāmon the full-moon day
  2. sinīvālyāmon the dark-moon day
  3. dvādaśyāmon the day after Ekādaśī
  4. śravaṇeduring the Śravaṇa star’s appearance
  5. athavāor
  6. dina-kṣayeat the end of the tithi
  7. vyatīpātea particular day of the name
  8. saṅkrameat the end of the month
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: “narration”, “recite”, “hearing”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “shelter”, “surrendered”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “favorable”

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

Am I approaching this narration with faithful receptivity rather than a desire for personal gain?

Practice

Read a short passage of Dhruva Mahārāja’s narration aloud today, with no expectation of payment and with a conscious wish to please the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecite With Surrender, Not for ProfitThis 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 4.12.49-50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.