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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
4.9.24.9.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.3

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

तद्दर्शनेनागतसाध्वस: क्षिता-

ववन्दताङ्गं विनमय्य दण्डवत् ।

द‍ृग्भ्यां प्रपश्यन् प्रपिबन्निवार्भक-

श्चुम्बन्निवास्येन भुजैरिवाश्लिषन् ॥ ३ ॥

tad-darśanenāgata-sādhvasaḥ kṣitāv

avandatāṅgaṁ vinamayya daṇḍavat

dṛgbhyāṁ prapaśyan prapibann ivārbhakaś

cumbann ivāsyena bhujair ivāśliṣan

Translation

When Dhruva Mahārāja saw his Lord just in front of him, he was greatly agitated and offered Him obeisances and respect. He fell flat before Him like a rod and became absorbed in love of Godhead. Dhruva Mahārāja, in ecstasy, looked upon the Lord as if he were drinking the Lord with his eyes, kissing the lotus feet of the Lord with his mouth, and embracing the Lord with his arms.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Expressed Through Awe and Respect

  1. 1

    Seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, Dhruva Mahārāja became deeply moved with awe and respect. He fell flat before the Lord like a rod.

  2. 2

    His love was so intense that he appeared to drink in the Lord with his eyes, kiss His lotus feet and embrace Him.

  3. 3

    These bodily expressions indicated that Dhruva Mahārāja had developed the eight kinds of transcendental ecstasy upon seeing the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Naturally, when Dhruva Mahārāja personally saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, he was very much agitated in awe and respect, and it appeared as if he were drinking the entire body of the Lord with his eyes.
  • The devotee’s love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so intense that he wants to kiss the lotus feet of the Lord constantly, and he wants to touch the tips of the toes of the Lord and constantly embrace His lotus feet.
  • All these features of Dhruva Mahārāja’s bodily expression indicate that upon seeing the Lord face to face he developed the eight kinds of transcendental ecstasy in his body.

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. tat-darśanenaafter seeing the Lord
  2. āgata-sādhvasaḥDhruva Mahārāja, being greatly confused
  3. kṣitauon the ground
  4. avandataoffered obeisances
  5. aṅgamhis body
  6. vinamayyaprostrating
  7. daṇḍavatjust like a rod
  8. dṛgbhyāmwith his eyes
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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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you express respect for the Lord while nurturing your desire to love Him?

Practice

Offer one deliberate, respectful bow to the Lord, remembering Dhruva Mahārāja’s loving reverence.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Expressed Through Awe and RespectThis 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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