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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
4.9.174.9.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.9.18inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

अथाभिष्टुत एवं वै सत्सङ्कल्पेन धीमता ।

भृत्यानुरक्तो भगवान् प्रतिनन्द्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥

maitreya uvāca

athābhiṣṭuta evaṁ vai

sat-saṅkalpena dhīmatā

bhṛtyānurakto bhagavān

pratinandyedam abravīt

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, when Dhruva Mahārāja, who had good intentions in his heart, finished his prayer, the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees and servants, congratulated him, speaking as follows.

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.

The Lord Kindly Receives His Devotee’s Prayers

  1. 1

    Maitreya describes Dhruva Mahārāja as having good intentions in his heart when he finished his prayer.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is very kind to His devotees and servants.

  3. 3

    The Lord congratulated Dhruva Mahārāja and then began to speak to him.

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 uvācaMaitreya said
  2. athathen
  3. abhiṣṭutaḥbeing worshiped
  4. evamthus
  5. vaicertainly
  6. sat-saṅkalpenaby Dhruva Mahārāja, who had only good desires in his heart
  7. dhī-matābecause he was very intelligent
  8. bhṛtya-anuraktaḥvery favorably disposed towards devotees
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What intentions am I bringing into my prayers?

Practice

Pause before one prayer today and consciously offer it with a sincere intention to serve the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Kindly Receives His Devotee’s PrayersThis 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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