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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
4.9.314.9.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.32

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.9.29inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मतिर्विदूषिता देवै: पतद्‌भिरसहिष्णुभि: । यो नारदवचस्तथ्यं नाग्राहिषमसत्तम: ॥ ३२ ॥

matir vidūṣitā devaiḥ

patadbhir asahiṣṇubhiḥ

yo nārada-vacas tathyaṁ

nāgrāhiṣam asattamaḥ

Translation

Since all the demigods who are situated in the higher planetary system will have to come down again, they are all envious of my being elevated to Vaikuṇṭhaloka by devotional service. These intolerant demigods have dissipated my intelligence, and only for this reason could I not accept the genuine benediction of the instructions of Sage Nārada.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Spiritual Instructions Seriously

  1. 1

    The demigods’ heavenly positions are temporary. They fear losing their posts and must return to earth when the results of their pious activities are exhausted.

  2. 2

    Dhruva Mahārāja regretted neglecting Nārada Muni’s instructions. His desire for revenge and his father’s kingdom had kept him attached to perishable things.

  3. 3

    Despite Dhruva’s contaminated desires, the Lord responded mercifully to his devotional service. He offered Dhruva the ultimate Vaiṣṇava goal.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva Mahārāja’s conclusion is that these demigods, being envious of his superior position in devotional service, conspired against him to pollute his intelligence, and thus although he was the disciple of a great Vaiṣṇava, Nārada Muni, he could not accept Nārada’s valid instructions.
  • Now Dhruva Mahārāja regretted very much that he had neglected these instructions.
  • But Dhruva Mahārāja was determined to achieve the benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore Nārada advised him to go back home for the time being, and in mature time he could try to practice devotional service.

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. matiḥintelligence
  2. vidūṣitācontaminated
  3. devaiḥby the demigods
  4. patadbhiḥwho will fall down
  5. asahiṣṇubhiḥintolerant
  6. yaḥI who
  7. nāradaof the great sage Nārada
  8. vacaḥof the instructions
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “mercifully”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “contaminated”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When might hurt pride prevent me from taking spiritual guidance seriously?

Practice

Pause over one remembered insult today and reflect on Nārada’s advice not to be absorbed in insult or adoration.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Spiritual Instructions SeriouslyThis 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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