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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 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.214.8.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.22

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sunītisince 4.8.20inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तमेव वत्साश्रय भृत्यवत्सलं

मुमुक्षुभिर्मृग्यपदाब्जपद्धतिम् ।

अनन्यभावे निजधर्मभाविते

मनस्यवस्थाप्य भजस्व पूरुषम् ॥ २२ ॥

tam eva vatsāśraya bhṛtya-vatsalaṁ

mumukṣubhir mṛgya-padābja-paddhatim

ananya-bhāve nija-dharma-bhāvite

manasy avasthāpya bhajasva pūruṣam

Translation

My dear boy, you also should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees. Persons seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death always take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service. Becoming purified by executing your allotted occupation, just situate the Supreme Personality of Godhead in your heart, and without deviating for a moment, engage always in His service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Keep Kṛṣṇa Within Your Heart

  1. 1

    Bhakti-yoga is the standard way of God realization. One can continue one’s occupational duties while keeping Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, within the heart.

  2. 2

    The Lord is bhṛtya-vatsala, very kind to His devotees. When everyone else fails to relieve a devotee’s misery, Kṛṣṇa is able to help.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga can purify anyone, even a very young child. Sunīti therefore advised taking shelter of the Supreme Lord and engaging steadily in His service.

Key points from the purport
  • In this connection, Queen Sunīti advised her son that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhṛtya-vatsala, which indicates that He is very kind to His devotees.
  • Queen Sunīti also stressed that the process of approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not easy, but is sought after by great sages who are very advanced in spiritual realization.
  • Therefore she advised him not to accept worship of the demigods or any other process but simply to take to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the result would be all perfection.

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. tamHim
  2. evaalso
  3. vatsamy dear boy
  4. āśrayatake shelter
  5. bhṛtya-vatsalamof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees
  6. mumukṣubhiḥalso by persons desiring liberation
  7. mṛgyato be sought
  8. pada-abjalotus feet
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “purified”, “purify”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I remember Kṛṣṇa while carrying out my duties?

Practice

Before one ordinary duty today, pause to remember Kṛṣṇa and keep Him in mind as you work.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKeep Kṛṣṇa Within Your HeartThis 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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