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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
4.8.684.8.70

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.69

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.8.68inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सुदुष्करं कर्म कृत्वा लोकपालैरपि प्रभु: ।

ऐष्यत्यचिरतो राजन् यशो विपुलयंस्तव ॥ ६९ ॥

suduṣkaraṁ karma kṛtvā

loka-pālair api prabhuḥ

aiṣyaty acirato rājan

yaśo vipulayaṁs tava

Translation

My dear King, your son is very competent. He will perform activities which would be impossible even for great kings and sages. Very soon he will complete his task and come back home. You should know that he will also spread your reputation all over the world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Be Determined to Satisfy the Lord

  1. 1

    Nārada called Dhruva Mahārāja prabhu because he is an ācārya of the Vaiṣṇava school. The spiritual master is the bona fide representative of the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    Prabhu also means “master of the senses.” Dhruva would accomplish the most difficult task: satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Dhruva was determined, not fickle, in his service. Every devotee should similarly resolve to satisfy the Lord in this life and go back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Prabhu means “the Supreme Personality of Godhead,” and pāda means “post.”
  • The most difficult task in life is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Dhruva Mahārāja would be able to do that.
  • Every devotee, therefore, should be determined that in this life he will be able to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by that process go back home, back to Godhead.

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. su-duṣkaramimpossible to perform
  2. karmawork
  3. kṛtvāafter performing
  4. loka-pālaiḥby great personalities
  5. apieven
  6. prabhuḥquite competent
  7. aiṣyatiwill come back
  8. acirataḥwithout delay
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What would help me become steadier in my determination to satisfy the Lord?

Practice

Choose one small devotional service and complete it today with the intention of pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBe Determined to Satisfy the LordThis 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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