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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
4.9.14.9.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

स वै धिया योगविपाकतीव्रया

हृत्पद्मकोशे स्फुरितं तडित्प्रभम् ।

तिरोहितं सहसैवोपलक्ष्य

बहि:स्थितं तदवस्थं ददर्श ॥ २ ॥

sa vai dhiyā yoga-vipāka-tīvrayā

hṛt-padma-kośe sphuritaṁ taḍit-prabham

tirohitaṁ sahasaivopalakṣya

bahiḥ-sthitaṁ tad-avasthaṁ dadarśa

Translation

The form of the Lord, which was brilliant like lightning and in which Dhruva Mahārāja, in his mature yogic process, was fully absorbed in meditation, all of a sudden disappeared. Thus Dhruva was perturbed, and his meditation broke. But as soon as he opened his eyes he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally present, just as he had been seeing the Lord in his heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Form Is Not Imaginary

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja constantly saw the Lord within his heart through mature meditation. When that form disappeared, he opened his eyes and saw the same Lord before him.

  2. 2

    A saintly person who develops love of Godhead through devotional service always sees the transcendental form of Śyāmasundara. This form within the devotee’s heart is not imaginary.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord is absolute. His form within the heart, His form in the temple and His original form in Vaikuṇṭha, Vṛndāvana-dhāma, are nondifferent.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of his mature position in yogic meditation, Dhruva Mahārāja was constantly observing the form of the Personality of Godhead within his heart, but all of a sudden, when the Supreme Personality disappeared from his heart, he thought that he had lost Him.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja was perturbed, but upon opening his eyes and breaking his meditation he saw the same form of the Lord before him.
  • Since the Supreme Lord is absolute, the form within the heart of a devotee, the form in the temple and the original form in Vaikuṇṭha, Vṛndāvana-dhāma, are all the same; they are nondifferent from one another.

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. saḥDhruva Mahārāja
  2. vaialso
  3. dhiyāby meditation
  4. yoga-vipāka-tīvrayāon account of mature realization of the yogic process
  5. hṛtthe heart
  6. padma-kośeon the lotus of
  7. sphuritammanifested
  8. taḍit-prabhambrilliant like lightning
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: “devotional service”, “devotee’s”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might understanding that the Lord’s form is real deepen your devotional attention?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Śyāmasundara, with the desire to develop love through devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Form Is Not ImaginaryThis 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 4.9.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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