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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
4.8.744.8.76

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.75

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

चतुर्थमपि वै मासं द्वादशे द्वादशेऽहनि ।

वायुभक्षो जितश्वासो ध्यायन्देवमधारयत् ॥ ७५ ॥

caturtham api vai māsaṁ

dvādaśe dvādaśe ’hani

vāyu-bhakṣo jita-śvāso

dhyāyan devam adhārayat

Translation

In the fourth month Dhruva Mahārāja became a complete master of the breathing exercise, and thus he inhaled air only every twelfth day. In this way he became completely fixed in his position and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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.

Steadiness in Worshiping the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    In the fourth month, Dhruva Mahārāja became a complete master of the breathing exercise.

  2. 2

    He inhaled air only every twelfth day.

  3. 3

    He became completely fixed in his position and worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. caturthamfourth
  2. apialso
  3. vaiin that way
  4. māsamthe month
  5. dvādaśe dvādaśeon the twelfth
  6. ahaniday
  7. vāyuair
  8. bhakṣaḥeating
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: “worshiped”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring greater steadiness to my worship?

Practice

Spend a few quiet minutes in attentive worship today, focusing on steadiness rather than breathing exercises.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySteadiness in Worshiping the Supreme 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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