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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.94.8.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.8.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura
A turning point forDhruva Mahārāja· Humiliation

तथा चिकीर्षमाणं तं सपत्‍न्यास्तनयं ध्रुवम् ।

सुरुचि: श‍ृण्वतो राज्ञ: सेर्ष्यमाहातिगर्विता ॥ १० ॥

tathā cikīrṣamāṇaṁ taṁ

sapatnyās tanayaṁ dhruvam

suruciḥ śṛṇvato rājñaḥ

serṣyam āhātigarvitā

Translation

While the child, Dhruva Mahārāja, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride she began to speak so as to be heard by the King himself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Favoritism Gives Pride an Opening

  1. 1

    The King felt affection for both Uttama and Dhruva and naturally wished to take both onto his lap. Yet his favoritism toward Suruci prevented him from welcoming Dhruva.

  2. 2

    Suruci understood the King’s preference for her. Envious of Dhruva and filled with pride, she spoke so that the King could hear.

  3. 3

    The purport shows how being specially favored can lead to taking undue advantage. Such behavior appeared even in the elevated family of Svāyambhuva Manu.

Key points from the purport
  • The King, of course, was equally affectionate toward both his sons, Uttama and Dhruva, so he had a natural inclination to take Dhruva, as well as Uttama, on his lap.
  • King Uttānapāda’s feeling was understood by Suruci, and therefore with great pride she began to speak about the King’s affection for her.
  • Therefore it is concluded that the feminine nature of woman is present everywhere.

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 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest

Dhruva leaves home, receives Nārada’s instructions, and worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead with austerity.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tathāthus
  2. cikīrṣamāṇamthe child Dhruva, who was trying to get up
  3. tamunto him
  4. sa-patnyāḥof her co-wife (Sunīti)
  5. tanayamson
  6. dhruvamDhruva
  7. suruciḥQueen Suruci
  8. śṛṇvataḥwhile hearing
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “father”, “child”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “pride”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “heard”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does attachment to someone’s approval ever keep me from treating another person fairly?

Practice

In one interaction today, check whether favoritism is influencing you and give the overlooked person fair attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFavoritism Gives Pride an OpeningThis 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 4.8.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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