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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
4.8.374.8.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.38

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

नूनं भवान्भगवतो योऽङ्गज: परमेष्ठिन: ।

वितुदन्नटते वीणां हिताय जगतोऽर्कवत् ॥ ३८ ॥

nūnaṁ bhavān bhagavato

yo ’ṅgajaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

vitudann aṭate vīṇāṁ

hitāya jagato ’rkavat

Translation

My dear lord, you are a worthy son of Lord Brahmā, and you travel, playing on your musical instrument, the vīṇā, for the welfare of the entire universe. You are like the sun, which rotates in the universe for the benefit of all living beings.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Teaching Is the Greatest Welfare

  1. 1

    Nārada Muni travels throughout the universe teaching everyone how to become a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport calls this the best welfare activity.

  2. 2

    His work is compared to the sun, which distributes sunshine everywhere without discrimination. His concern is to benefit all conditioned souls.

  3. 3

    Dhruva Mahārāja was glad to meet Nārada and confidently requested his mercy. He hoped Nārada could fulfill even his extraordinary desire.

Key points from the purport
  • He also expressed his gladness that he had met such an exalted person as Nārada, whose only concern was to illuminate the world, like the sun, which rotates all over the universe only for the purpose of benefiting the inhabitants of all planets.
  • Nārada Muni travels all over the universe for the sole purpose of performing the best welfare activity for the entire universe by teaching everyone how to become a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja requested Nārada Muni to be merciful to him.

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. nūnamcertainly
  2. bhavānYour Honor
  3. bhagavataḥof the Lord
  4. yaḥthat which
  5. aṅga-jaḥborn from the body
  6. parameṣṭhinaḥLord Brahmā
  7. vitudanby playing on
  8. aṭatetravel all over
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Nārada's concern for everyone broaden my understanding of helping others?

Practice

Share one simple teaching about becoming a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead with someone willing to hear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Teaching Is the Greatest WelfareThis 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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