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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 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.12.524.13.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.1

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

सूत उवाच

निशम्य कौषारविणोपवर्णितंध्रुवस्य वैकुण्ठपदाधिरोहणम् । प्ररूढभावो भगवत्यधोक्षजेप्रष्टुं पुनस्तं विदुर: प्रचक्रमे ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca

niśamya kauṣāraviṇopavarṇitaṁ

dhruvasya vaikuṇṭha-padādhirohaṇam

prarūḍha-bhāvo bhagavaty adhokṣaje

praṣṭuṁ punas taṁ viduraḥ pracakrame

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī, continuing to speak to all the ṛṣis, headed by Śaunaka, said: After hearing Maitreya Ṛṣi describe Dhruva Mahārāja’s ascent to Lord Viṣṇu’s abode, Vidura became very much enlightened in devotional emotion, and he inquired from Maitreya as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing About the Lord Deepens Devotion

  1. 1

    Hearing of Dhruva Mahārāja’s ascent to Lord Viṣṇu’s abode increased Vidura’s devotional emotion and inspired further questions.

  2. 2

    Devotees do not become tired of hearing and speaking about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees. The more they hear, the more enthusiastic they become.

  3. 3

    The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra repeats three words—Hare, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma. Yet devotees can continue chanting throughout the day without feeling fatigued.

Key points from the purport
  • As evidenced in the topics between Vidura and Maitreya, the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotees are so fascinating that neither the devotee who is describing them nor the devotee who is hearing is at all fatigued by the inquiries and answers.
  • But devotees are never satisfied or satiated in hearing and speaking about the Supreme Personality of Godhead or about His devotees.
  • The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is simply the repetition of three words — Hare, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma — but still devotees can go on chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra twenty-four hours a day without feeling fatigued.

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

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja

Dhruva’s descendants are described, followed by an account of a sonless king and the cruel boy Vena.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. niśamyaafter hearing
  3. kauṣāraviṇāby the sage Maitreya
  4. upavarṇitamdescribed
  5. dhruvasyaof Mahārāja Dhruva
  6. vaikuṇṭha-padato the abode of Viṣṇu
  7. adhirohaṇamascent
  8. prarūḍhaincreased
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 4.13

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “hearing”, “chanting”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “inquired”

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

What inspires me to hear more about the Lord and His devotees?

Practice

Spend a few attentive minutes chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing About the Lord Deepens 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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