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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
4.12.49-504.12.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.51

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

ज्ञानमज्ञाततत्त्वाय यो दद्यात्सत्पथेऽमृतम् । कृपालोर्दीननाथस्य देवास्तस्यानुगृह्णते ॥ ५१ ॥

jñānam ajñāta-tattvāya

yo dadyāt sat-pathe ’mṛtam

kṛpālor dīna-nāthasya

devās tasyānugṛhṇate

Translation

The narration of Dhruva Mahārāja is sublime knowledge for the attainment of immortality. Persons unaware of the Absolute Truth can be led to the path of truth. Those who out of transcendental kindness take on the responsibility of becoming master-protectors of the poor living entities automatically gain the interest and blessings of the demigods.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Share Devotional Knowledge Out of Compassion

  1. 1

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was compiled to remove ignorance of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Devotees should distribute its teachings throughout the world.

  2. 2

    Actual immortality is devotional service, which leads to association with the Supreme Lord. Speculation reaching only impersonal Brahman does not bring this association.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the actual friend of poor living entities, and His pure devotees kindly share Bhāgavata knowledge. By preaching devotional service, they automatically please the demigods, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes its branches and leaves.

Key points from the purport
  • The great sage Maitreya, therefore, recommends that to enlighten people about the Absolute Truth (tattva) devotees should preach the teachings of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam throughout the entire world.
  • Śrīla Vyāsadeva especially compiled this great literature of scientific knowledge because people are completely unaware of the Absolute Truth.
  • Because people do not know the Absolute Truth, this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was specifically compiled by Vyāsadeva under the instruction of Nārada.

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. jñānamknowledge
  2. ajñāta-tattvāyato those who are unaware of the truth
  3. yaḥone who
  4. dadyātimparts
  5. sat-patheon the path of truth
  6. amṛtamimmortality
  7. kṛpāloḥkind
  8. dīna-nāthasyaprotector of the poor
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “kindness”, “kindly”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

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 compassion, rather than a wish to display knowledge, guide my sharing of these teachings?

Practice

Share one teaching from this verse with someone willing to hear, explaining that devotional service leads to association with the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShare Devotional Knowledge Out of CompassionThis 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 4.12.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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