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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 9: Dhruva Mahārāja Returns Home
4.9.264.9.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.9.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura
A turning point forDhruva Mahārāja· Vision of the Lord

सोऽपि सङ्कल्पजं विष्णो: पादसेवोपसादितम् ।

प्राप्य सङ्कल्पनिर्वाणं नातिप्रीतोऽभ्यगात्पुरम् ॥ २७ ॥

so ’pi saṅkalpajaṁ viṣṇoḥ

pāda-sevopasāditam

prāpya saṅkalpa-nirvāṇaṁ

nātiprīto ’bhyagāt puram

Translation

Despite having achieved the desired result of his determination by worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord, Dhruva Mahārāja was not very pleased. Thus he returned to his home.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotional Service Makes No Demands

  1. 1

    Following Nārada Muni's instructions, Dhruva Mahārāja worshiped the Lord's lotus feet in devotional service. He obtained the exalted position he had desired.

  2. 2

    Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mercifully fulfilled Dhruva Mahārāja's childish determination. He offered Dhruva the planet where He personally resides.

  3. 3

    Although his desire was fulfilled, Dhruva Mahārāja was not very pleased. He felt ashamed of having demanded something, because pure devotional service makes no demand from the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • By worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service as instructed by Nārada Muni, Dhruva Mahārāja achieved the desired result.
  • Still, when Dhruva Mahārāja returned home he was not very much pleased, for although in pure devotional service there is no demand from the Lord, because of his childish nature he had demanded something.
  • Thus although the Lord also fulfilled his desire, he was not very pleased.

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. saḥhe (Dhruva Mahārāja)
  2. apialthough
  3. saṅkalpa-jamthe desired result
  4. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
  5. pāda-sevāby serving the lotus feet
  6. upasāditamobtained
  7. prāpyahaving achieved
  8. saṅkalpaof his determination
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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: “worshiping”, “devotional service”, “worshiped”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “mercifully”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “childish”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I approaching the Lord mainly to serve Him or to obtain something?

Practice

Offer one short prayer today asking to serve the Lord without requesting a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotional Service Makes No DemandsThis 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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