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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
4.8.694.8.71

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.70

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.8.70inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

इति देवर्षिणा प्रोक्तं विश्रुत्य जगतीपति: ।

राजलक्ष्मीमनाद‍ृत्य पुत्रमेवान्वचिन्तयत् ॥ ७० ॥

maitreya uvāca

iti devarṣiṇā proktaṁ

viśrutya jagatī-patiḥ

rāja-lakṣmīm anādṛtya

putram evānvacintayat

Translation

The great Maitreya continued: The King, Uttānapāda, after being advised by Nārada Muni, practically gave up all duties in relation with his kingdom, which was very vast and wide, opulent like the goddess of fortune, and he simply began to think of his son Dhruva.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The King Turns His Thoughts Toward Dhruva

  1. 1

    After receiving Nārada Muni’s advice, King Uttānapāda simply began to think of his son Dhruva.

  2. 2

    His kingdom was vast, wide and opulent like the goddess of fortune.

  3. 3

    Despite this great opulence, the King practically gave up his royal duties while thinking of his son.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya said
  2. itithus
  3. devarṣiṇāby the great sage Nārada
  4. proktamspoken
  5. viśrutyahearing
  6. jagatī-patiḥthe King
  7. rāja-lakṣmīmthe opulence of his big kingdom
  8. anādṛtyawithout taking care of
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”, “kingdom”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What occupies my thoughts even when many comforts surround me?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to notice what is occupying your mind and how it affects your attention to your duties.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe King Turns His Thoughts Toward DhruvaThis 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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