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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
4.8.344.8.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.35

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Dhruva Mahārājasince 4.8.35inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ध्रुव उवाच

सोऽयं शमो भगवता सुखदु:खहतात्मनाम् ।

दर्शित: कृपया पुंसां दुर्दर्शोऽस्मद्विधैस्तु य: ॥ ३५ ॥

dhruva uvāca

so ’yaṁ śamo bhagavatā

sukha-duḥkha-hatātmanām

darśitaḥ kṛpayā puṁsāṁ

durdarśo ’smad-vidhais tu yaḥ

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja said: My dear Lord Nāradajī, for a person whose heart is disturbed by the material conditions of happiness and distress, whatever you have so kindly explained for attainment of peace of mind is certainly a very good instruction. But as far as I am concerned, I am covered by ignorance, and this kind of philosophy does not touch my heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Desires Do Not Bar Worship

  1. 1

    Material desire seeks to satisfy one's own senses. Spiritual desire means being ready to sacrifice anything to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Dhruva Mahārāja frankly admitted that material desires and distress still affected his heart. He valued Nārada's instruction but felt unable to accept it.

  3. 3

    Everyone is fit to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even with many material desires, one should take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and worship the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva did not accept the instruction given by the great saint Nārada because he thought himself unfit for such instruction, which prohibited all material desires.
  • The question raised here is whether or not a person afflicted by material desires is fit to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Through this narration it will become very clear that no one is barred from worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even if one has many material desires.

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. dhruvaḥ uvācaDhruva Mahārāja said
  2. saḥthat
  3. ayamthis
  4. śamaḥequilibrium of mind
  5. bhagavatāby Your Lordship
  6. sukha-duḥkhahappiness and miseries
  7. hata-ātmanāmthose who are affected
  8. darśitaḥshown
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “kindly”, “distress”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “philosophy”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I let my imperfect motives discourage me from worshiping Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa, honestly acknowledging one material desire and expressing your wish to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Desires Do Not Bar WorshipThis 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 4.8.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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