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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
4.9.244.9.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.25

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 4.9.25inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ततो गन्तासि मत्स्थानं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् ।

उपरिष्टाद‍ृषिभ्यस्त्वं यतो नावर्तते गत: ॥ २५ ॥

tato gantāsi mat-sthānaṁ

sarva-loka-namaskṛtam

upariṣṭād ṛṣibhyas tvaṁ

yato nāvartate gataḥ

Translation

The Personality of Godhead continued: My dear Dhruva, after your material life in this body, you will go to My planet, which is always offered obeisances by the residents of all other planetary systems. It is situated above the planets of the seven ṛṣis, and having gone there you will never have to come back again to this material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord's Abode Is Eternal

  1. 1

    The Lord promised Dhruva Mahārāja that he would reach His abode and never return to this material world. The word nāvartate emphasizes this promise.

  2. 2

    Dhruvaloka is the abode of Lord Viṣṇu within this material world. Situated above the planets of the seven ṛṣis, it is worshiped by the other planetary systems.

  3. 3

    Dhruvaloka remains even when the universe is dissolved. The purport explains that the Lord's promise of no return indicates that this planet is eternal.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord says, “You will not come back to this material world, for you will reach mat-sthānam, My abode.”
  • Therefore Dhruvaloka, or the polestar, is the abode of Lord Viṣṇu within this material world.
  • It is clearly indicated that this planet is situated above the seven planetary systems of the ṛṣis, and because this planet is Viṣṇuloka, it is worshiped by all other planetary systems.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. gantā asiyou will go
  3. mat-sthānamto My abode
  4. sarva-lokaby all planetary systems
  5. namaḥ-kṛtamoffered obeisances
  6. upariṣṭātsituated higher
  7. ṛṣibhyaḥthan the planetary systems of the ṛṣis
  8. tvamyou
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord's promise of an eternal abode affect what I value?

Practice

Reread the Lord's promise today and spend a minute reflecting on the permanence of His abode.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord's Abode Is EternalThis 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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