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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 9: Dhruva Mahārāja Returns Home
4.8.824.9.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.1

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.9.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

त एवमुत्सन्नभया उरुक्रमे

कृतावनामा: प्रययुस्त्रिविष्टपम् ।

सहस्रशीर्षापि ततो गरुत्मता

मधोर्वनं भृत्यदिद‍ृक्षया गत: ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

ta evam utsanna-bhayā urukrame

kṛtāvanāmāḥ prayayus tri-viṣṭapam

sahasraśīrṣāpi tato garutmatā

madhor vanaṁ bhṛtya-didṛkṣayā gataḥ

Translation

The great sage Maitreya told Vidura: When the demigods were thus reassured by the Personality of Godhead, they were freed from all fears, and after offering their obeisances they returned to their heavenly planets. Then the Lord, who is nondifferent from the Sahasraśīrṣā incarnation, got on the back of Garuḍa, who carried Him to the Madhuvana Forest to see His servant Dhruva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Comes to His Servant

  1. 1

    Reassured by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods became free from fear. They offered obeisances and returned to their heavenly planets.

  2. 2

    The Lord rode on Garuḍa to Madhuvana Forest, wishing to see His servant Dhruva.

  3. 3

    The Lord appeared as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who is nondifferent from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. The purport identifies this appearance as Pṛśnigarbha, who created Dhruvaloka for Dhruva Mahārāja.

Key points from the purport
  • The word sahasraśīrṣā refers to the Personality of Godhead known as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
  • Although the Lord appeared as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, He has been described here as Sahasraśīrṣā Viṣṇu because He is nondifferent from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
  • According to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta, the Sahasraśīrṣā Personality of Godhead who appeared at that time was the incarnation known as Pṛśnigarbha.

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 9: Dhruva Mahārāja Returns Home

The Lord grants Dhruva’s desire; Dhruva regrets his former hostility and returns to his family.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya continued
  2. tethe demigods
  3. evamthus
  4. utsanna-bhayāḥbeing freed from all fears
  5. urukrameunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose actions are uncommon
  6. kṛta-avanāmāḥthey offered their obeisances
  7. prayayuḥthey returned
  8. tri-viṣṭapamto their respective heavenly planets
3

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “fears”, “fear”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “free from”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the Lord’s wish to see His servant tell you about His relationship with devotees?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Lord today, remembering His care for His servant Dhruva.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Comes to His ServantThis 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 4.9.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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