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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
4.9.354.9.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.36

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.9.36inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

न वै मुकुन्दस्य पदारविन्दयोरजोजुषस्तात भवाद‍ृशा जना: । वाञ्छन्ति तद्दास्यमृतेऽर्थमात्मनोयद‍ृच्छया लब्धमन:समृद्धय: ॥ ३६ ॥

maitreya uvāca

na vai mukundasya padāravindayo

rajo-juṣas tāta bhavādṛśā janāḥ

vāñchanti tad-dāsyam ṛte ’rtham ātmano

yadṛcchayā labdha-manaḥ-samṛddhayaḥ

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, persons like you, who are pure devotees of the lotus feet of Mukunda [the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can offer liberation] and who are always attached to the honey of His lotus feet, are always satisfied in serving at the lotus feet of the Lord. In any condition of life, such persons remain satisfied, and thus they never ask the Lord for material prosperity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Find Satisfaction in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Knowing the Lord as the supreme enjoyer, proprietor and friend brings satisfaction. A pure devotee remains content in any condition while engaged in His service.

  2. 2

    A devotee does not seek material prosperity, mystic powers or liberation. Freedom from material desires allows one to taste the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Desirelessness does not mean having no desires; it means not desiring sense gratification. Remaining satisfied with the comforts the Lord provides saves time for Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee is always engaged in drinking the honey from the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Unless one is freed from all material desires, he cannot actually taste the honey from the Lord’s lotus feet.
  • A devotee should always remain satisfied with the standard of comforts offered by the Lord, as stated in the Īśopaniṣad (tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ).

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. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya continued
  2. nanever
  3. vaicertainly
  4. mukundasyaof the Lord, who can give liberation
  5. pada-aravindayoḥof the lotus feet
  6. rajaḥ-juṣaḥpersons who are eager to taste the dust
  7. tātamy dear Vidura
  8. bhavādṛśāḥlike yourself
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotee”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What desire for extra comfort is taking time away from devotional service?

Practice

Use five minutes you might spend seeking an unnecessary comfort for devotional service instead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFind Satisfaction in the Lord’s ServiceThis 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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