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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
4.12.64.12.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.12.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The master of the treasury, Kuverasince 4.12.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वृणीहि कामं नृप यन्मनोगतं

मत्तस्त्वमौत्तानपदेऽविशङ्कित: ।

वरं वरार्होऽम्बुजनाभपादयो-

रनन्तरं त्वां वयमङ्ग शुश्रुम ॥ ७ ॥

vṛṇīhi kāmaṁ nṛpa yan mano-gataṁ

mattas tvam auttānapade ’viśaṅkitaḥ

varaṁ varārho ’mbuja-nābha-pādayor

anantaraṁ tvāṁ vayam aṅga śuśruma

Translation

My dear Dhruva Mahārāja, son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, we have heard that you are constantly engaged in transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known for His lotus navel. You are therefore worthy to take all benedictions from us. Please, therefore, ask without hesitation whatever benediction you want from me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Surpasses the Desire for Benedictions

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja was known as a great devotee, constantly thinking of the Lord’s lotus feet. Kuvera therefore invited him to ask for any benediction.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee need not worship the demigods separately for blessings. Material benedictions and even liberation wait to serve one engaged in loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Kuvera knew that Dhruva desired nothing within the three material worlds. His desire was to remember the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet constantly.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva Mahārāja, the son of King Uttānapāda, was already known throughout the universe as a great devotee of the Lord, constantly thinking of His lotus feet.
  • Lord Kuvera said to Dhruva Mahārāja that he had heard that Dhruva was always in samādhi, or thinking of the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • He knew that Dhruva would ask for nothing but to remember the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord constantly.

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. vṛṇīhiplease ask
  2. kāmamdesire
  3. nṛpaO King
  4. yatwhatever
  5. manaḥ-gatamwithin your mind
  6. mattaḥfrom me
  7. tvamyou
  8. auttānapadeO son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.12

    In this verse: “blessings”

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

Do I value remembrance of the Lord more than the benefits I might receive?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to remember the Lord’s lotus feet without asking for a material benefit.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Surpasses the Desire for BenedictionsThis 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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