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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.314.8.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.8.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अतो निवर्ततामेष निर्बन्धस्तव निष्फल: ।

यतिष्यति भवान् काले श्रेयसां समुपस्थिते ॥ ३२ ॥

ato nivartatām eṣa

nirbandhas tava niṣphalaḥ

yatiṣyati bhavān kāle

śreyasāṁ samupasthite

Translation

For this reason, my dear boy, you should not endeavor for this; it will not be successful. It is better that you go home. When you are grown up, by the mercy of the Lord you will get a chance for these mystic performances. At that time you may execute this function.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Devotional Service Without Delay

  1. 1

    The Vedic system provides four stages of life, beginning with study under a spiritual master and culminating in complete devotion to devotional service.

  2. 2

    Serious devotees do not think devotional service must wait until old age. One should begin rendering devotional service at any point in life.

  3. 3

    Nārada was testing Dhruva Mahārāja's seriousness. The spiritual master tests how sincerely a disciple desires to execute devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Generally, people think that childhood is meant for enjoying life by engaging oneself in sports and play, youth is meant for enjoying the company of young girls, and when one becomes old, at the time of death, then he may try to execute devotional service or a mystic yoga process.
  • Actually, the direct order is that from any point of life one should begin rendering devotional service.
  • But it is the duty of the spiritual master to test the disciple to see how seriously he desires to execute devotional service.

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. ataḥhereafter
  2. nivartatāmjust stop yourself
  3. eṣaḥthis
  4. nirbandhaḥdetermination
  5. tavayour
  6. niṣphalaḥwithout any result
  7. yatiṣyatiin the future you should try
  8. bhavānyourself
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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 4.8

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “mercy”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I postponing devotional service until I think my circumstances will be better?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service rather than waiting for a more convenient time.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin Devotional Service Without DelayThis 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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