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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
4.8.404.8.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.41

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.8.40inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं य इच्छेच्छ्रेय आत्मन: ।

एकं ह्येव हरेस्तत्र कारणं पादसेवनम् ॥ ४१ ॥

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣākhyaṁ

ya icchec chreya ātmanaḥ

ekaṁ hy eva hares tatra

kāraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam

Translation

Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The demigods cannot give any benediction without the Supreme Lord’s sanction. An intelligent person therefore approaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly.

  2. 2

    Real religion is surrender at the Lord’s lotus feet, not merely the performance of ritualistic ceremonies. A devotee fully engaged in His service is already liberated.

  3. 3

    Nārada Muni advised Dhruva Mahārāja to take shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa through devotional service. Even someone full of material desires can continue serving the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Actually, the demigods cannot give any benediction without the sanction of the Supreme Lord.
  • Nārada Muni, therefore, advised that even for religiosity, economic development, sense gratification or liberation, one should approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, offer prayers and ask for the fulfillment of one’s desire at the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • For one who is actually surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord, there is no question of any separate endeavor for economic development.

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. dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣathe four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation
  2. ākhyamby the name
  3. yaḥwho
  4. icchetmay desire
  5. śreyaḥthe goal of life
  6. ātmanaḥof the self
  7. ekam hi evaonly the one
  8. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worship”, “devotee”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “religiosity”, “principles”, “religion”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring my desires to Kṛṣṇa while making devotional service my goal?

Practice

Offer one honest prayer to Kṛṣṇa, asking for shelter at His lotus feet and help in serving Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 22 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 22 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayTake Shelter of Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional ServiceThis 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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