1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.774.8.79

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.78

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

आधारं महदादीनां प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरम् ।

ब्रह्म धारयमाणस्य त्रयो लोकाश्चकम्पिरे ॥ ७८ ॥

ādhāraṁ mahad-ādīnāṁ

pradhāna-puruṣeśvaram

brahma dhārayamāṇasya

trayo lokāś cakampire

Translation

When Dhruva Mahārāja thus captured the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the refuge of the total material creation and who is the master of all living entities, the three worlds began to tremble.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Is Yoga’s Highest Perfection

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the origin and resting place of Brahman. His transcendental form is the seed of all greatness.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa controls both matter and the living entities, entering everything—even the atom. With the Supreme Brahman situated in his heart, Dhruva Mahārāja became so great that the worlds trembled.

  3. 3

    The topmost yogī always thinks of Kṛṣṇa within the heart and engages in His loving transcendental service. A pure devotee can surpass the wonderful material powers of ordinary yogīs.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā also the Supreme Godhead says, “I am the resting place of Brahman.”
  • Since the Supreme Brahman was situated in the heart of Dhruva Mahārāja, he became heavier than the heaviest, and therefore everything trembled in all three worlds and in the spiritual world.
  • By associating constantly with the Supreme Personality in his heart, Dhruva Mahārāja naturally became equal to the greatest, Brahman, by His association, and thus became the heaviest, and the entire universe trembled.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 4.8.78 quotesBG 10.42

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.42) Kṛṣṇa also says, viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam.

The purport of SB 4.8.78 quotesBG 6.47

This is the perfection of yoga performance, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. ādhāramrepose
  2. mahat-ādīnāmof the material sum total known as the mahat-tattva
  3. pradhānathe chief
  4. puruṣa-īśvarammaster of all living entities
  5. brahmathe Supreme Brahman, the Personality of Godhead
  6. dhārayamāṇasyahaving taken into the heart
  7. trayaḥthe three planetary systems
  8. lokāḥall the planets
  9. cakampirebegan to tremble
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “refuge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “material”

  • 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

Am I seeking impressive abilities, or loving service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Perform one small act of devotional service today while consciously remembering Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Is Yoga’s Highest PerfectionThis 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 4.8.78? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories