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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
4.8.704.8.72

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.71

Mukti· Liberation
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

तत्राभिषिक्त: प्रयतस्तामुपोष्य विभावरीम् ।

समाहित: पर्यचरद‍ृष्यादेशेन पूरुषम् ॥ ७१ ॥

tatrābhiṣiktaḥ prayatas

tām upoṣya vibhāvarīm

samāhitaḥ paryacarad

ṛṣy-ādeśena pūruṣam

Translation

Elsewhere, Dhruva Mahārāja, having arrived at Madhuvana, took his bath in the river Yamunā and observed fasting in the night with great care and attention. After that, as advised by the great sage Nārada, he engaged himself in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Spiritual Master’s Instructions Carefully

  1. 1

    At Madhuvana, Dhruva Mahārāja bathed in the Yamunā, fasted carefully through the night and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    He acted exactly according to the advice of his spiritual master, Nārada. Seriously following the spiritual master’s instructions is the way of perfection.

  3. 3

    Our concern should be how to execute the spiritual master’s order, rather than anxiety over attaining perfection. The spiritual master expertly gives special instructions to each disciple.

Key points from the purport
  • The significance of this particular verse is that Dhruva Mahārāja acted exactly according to the advice of his spiritual master, the great sage Nārada.
  • Our only concern should be how to execute the order of the spiritual master.
  • A spiritual master is expert in giving special instructions to each of his disciples, and if the disciple executes the order of the spiritual master, that is the way of his perfection.

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. tatrathereupon
  2. abhiṣiktaḥafter taking a bath
  3. prayataḥwith great attention
  4. tāmthat
  5. upoṣyafasting
  6. vibhāvarīmnight
  7. samāhitaḥperfect attention
  8. paryacaratworshiped
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiping”, “worshiped”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I give more careful attention to the spiritual instructions I have received?

Practice

Review one instruction you have received for devotional service and take one concrete step to follow it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow the Spiritual Master’s Instructions CarefullyThis 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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