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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
4.9.384.9.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.9.39-40

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

सदश्वं रथमारुह्य कार्तस्वरपरिष्कृतम् । ब्राह्मणै: कुलवृद्धैश्च पर्यस्तोऽमात्यबन्धुभि: ॥ ३९ ॥ शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादेन ब्रह्मघोषेण वेणुभि: । निश्चक्राम पुरात्तूर्णमात्मजाभीक्षणोत्सुक: ॥ ४० ॥

sad-aśvaṁ ratham āruhya

kārtasvara-pariṣkṛtam

brāhmaṇaiḥ kula-vṛddhaiś ca

paryasto ’mātya-bandhubhiḥ

śaṅkha-dundubhi-nādena

brahma-ghoṣeṇa veṇubhiḥ

niścakrāma purāt tūrṇam

ātmajābhīkṣaṇotsukaḥ

Translation

Then King Uttānapāda, being very eager to see the face of his lost son, mounted a chariot drawn by excellent horses and bedecked with golden filigree. Taking with him many learned brāhmaṇas, all the elderly personalities of his family, his officers, his ministers and his immediate friends, he immediately left the city. As he proceeded in this parade, there were auspicious sounds of conchshells, kettledrums, flutes, and the chanting of Vedic mantras to indicate all good fortune.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Joyful Welcome Shared With Others

  1. 1

    King Uttānapāda was eager to see his lost son’s face. He immediately left the city in a chariot drawn by excellent horses and decorated with golden filigree.

  2. 2

    Learned brāhmaṇas, elderly family members, officers, ministers and close friends accompanied him. The welcome brought many people together.

  3. 3

    Conchshells, kettledrums and flutes sounded during the procession. The chanting of Vedic mantras also marked the occasion with auspiciousness.

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. sat-aśvamdrawn by very fine horses
  2. rathamchariot
  3. āruhyagetting on
  4. kārtasvara-pariṣkṛtambedecked with golden filigree
  5. brāhmaṇaiḥwith brāhmaṇas
  6. kula-vṛddhaiḥalong with elderly personalities of the family
  7. caalso
  8. paryastaḥbeing surrounded
3

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make a welcome warm and include others in its joy?

Practice

Give someone a warm, attentive welcome today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Joyful Welcome Shared With OthersThis 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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