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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
4.8.264.8.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.27

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.8.27inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

नारद उवाच

नाधुनाप्यवमानं ते सम्मानं वापि पुत्रक ।

लक्षयाम: कुमारस्य सक्तस्य क्रीडनादिषु ॥ २७ ॥

nārada uvāca

nādhunāpy avamānaṁ te

sammānaṁ vāpi putraka

lakṣayāmaḥ kumārasya

saktasya krīḍanādiṣu

Translation

The great sage Nārada told Dhruva: My dear boy, you are only a little boy whose attachment is to sports and other frivolities. Why are you so affected by words insulting your honor?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Notice How Deeply Honor Affects You

  1. 1

    Nārada addressed Dhruva affectionately as a little boy attached to play. He asked why insulting words had affected him so deeply.

  2. 2

    An ordinary child does not take insulting words very seriously. Nor does such a child greatly appreciate words of honor.

  3. 3

    Dhruva’s kṣatriya spirit was unusually strong. He could not tolerate even a slight insult that injured his prestige.

Key points from the purport
  • Ordinarily if a child is rebuked as a rascal or fool, he smiles and does not take such insulting words very seriously.
  • Similarly, if words of honor are offered, he does not appreciate them.
  • But in the case of Dhruva Mahārāja, the kṣatriya spirit was so strong that he could not tolerate a slight insult from his stepmother which injured his kṣatriya prestige.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nāradaḥ uvācathe great sage Nārada said
  2. nanot
  3. adhunājust now
  4. apialthough
  5. avamānaminsult
  6. teunto you
  7. sammānamoffering respects
  8. vāor
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “attachment”, “attached”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How strongly do words of praise or insult affect my sense of honor?

Practice

When you receive praise or criticism today, pause and notice how much importance you give the words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNotice How Deeply Honor Affects YouThis 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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