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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.814.9.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.8.82

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 4.8.82inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

श्रीभगवानुवाच

मा भैष्ट बालं तपसो दुरत्यया-

न्निवर्तयिष्ये प्रतियात स्वधाम ।

यतो हि व: प्राणनिरोध आसी-

दौत्तानपादिर्मयि सङ्गतात्मा ॥ ८२ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

mā bhaiṣṭa bālaṁ tapaso duratyayān

nivartayiṣye pratiyāta sva-dhāma

yato hi vaḥ prāṇa-nirodha āsīd

auttānapādir mayi saṅgatātmā

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied: My dear demigods, do not be perturbed by this. It is due to the severe austerity and full determination of the son of King Uttānapāda, who is now fully absorbed in thought of Me. He has obstructed the universal breathing process. You can safely return to your respective homes. I shall stop this boy in his severe acts of austerities, and you will be saved from this situation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Please the Lord Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja’s full absorption in the Lord did not mean that he lost his separate existence. Rather, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was attracted to his meditation and wanted to approach him personally.

  2. 2

    Pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead pleases everyone, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes every branch, twig and leaf. Kṛṣṇa is the supreme cause of the universe.

  3. 3

    The Lord assured the demigods that Dhruva Mahārāja was not about to annihilate everyone. A devotee is never envious of other living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • Here one word, saṅgatātmā, is misinterpreted by the Māyāvādī philosophers, who say that the self of Dhruva Mahārāja became one with the Supreme Self, the Personality of Godhead.
  • But here it is clearly said by the Supreme Lord that Dhruva Mahārāja was so absorbed in meditation on the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that He Himself, the universal consciousness, was attracted to Dhruva.
  • Rather, the Supersoul, the Personality of Godhead, wanted to stop Dhruva Mahārāja from this severe austerity.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead replied
  2. mā bhaiṣṭado not be afraid
  3. bālamthe boy Dhruva
  4. tapasaḥby his severe austerity
  5. duratyayātstrongly determined
  6. nivartayiṣyeI shall ask him to stop this
  7. pratiyātayou can return
  8. sva-dhāmayour own respective homes
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “saved”, “safely”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • 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

How can you make pleasing Kṛṣṇa, rather than competing with others, the aim of your service?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and consciously make pleasing Kṛṣṇa your purpose.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPlease the Lord Through Devotional ServiceThis 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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