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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
4.8.754.8.77

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.76

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

पञ्चमे मास्यनुप्राप्ते जितश्वासो नृपात्मज: ।

ध्यायन् ब्रह्म पदैकेन तस्थौ स्थाणुरिवाचल: ॥ ७६ ॥

pañcame māsy anuprāpte

jita-śvāso nṛpātmajaḥ

dhyāyan brahma padaikena

tasthau sthāṇur ivācalaḥ

Translation

By the fifth month, Mahārāja Dhruva, the son of the King, had controlled his breathing so perfectly that he was able to stand on only one leg, just as a column stands, without motion, and concentrate his mind fully on the Parabrahman.

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.

Full Concentration on the Parabrahman

  1. 1

    By the fifth month, Mahārāja Dhruva had controlled his breathing perfectly.

  2. 2

    The King’s son stood on one leg without motion, just like a column.

  3. 3

    His mind was fully concentrated on the Parabrahman.

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. pañcamein the fifth
  2. māsiin the month
  3. anuprāptebeing situated
  4. jita-śvāsaḥand still controlling the breathing
  5. nṛpa-ātmajaḥthe son of the King
  6. dhyāyanmeditating
  7. brahmathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. padā ekenawith one leg
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What draws my mind away when I try to concentrate on the Parabrahman?

Practice

Set aside one distraction and spend a quiet minute directing your attention toward the Parabrahman.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFull Concentration on the ParabrahmanThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.8.76? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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