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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
4.9.42-434.9.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.44

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

अथाजिघ्रन्मुहुर्मूर्ध्नि शीतैर्नयनवारिभि: । स्‍नापयामास तनयं जातोद्दाममनोरथ: ॥ ४४ ॥

athājighran muhur mūrdhni

śītair nayana-vāribhiḥ

snāpayām āsa tanayaṁ

jātoddāma-manorathaḥ

Translation

Reunion with Dhruva Mahārāja fulfilled King Uttānapāda’s long-cherished desire, and for this reason he smelled Dhruva’s head again and again and bathed him with torrents of very cold tears.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Tears of Fulfilled Affection

  1. 1

    Reunion with Dhruva Mahārāja fulfilled King Uttānapāda’s long-cherished desire.

  2. 2

    The King smelled his son’s head again and again and bathed him with torrents of very cold tears.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that tears of great happiness are cold and pleasing, whereas tears of distress are hot.

Key points from the purport
  • By nature’s way, when a man cries, there may be two causes.
  • When one cries in great happiness upon the fulfillment of some desire, the tears coming forth from the eyes are very cold and pleasing, whereas tears in times of distress are very hot.

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. athathereupon
  2. ājighransmelling
  3. muhuḥagain and again
  4. mūrdhnion the head
  5. śītaiḥcold
  6. nayanaof his eyes
  7. vāribhiḥwith the water
  8. snāpayām āsahe bathed
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When have you felt deep happiness upon seeing someone dear to you?

Practice

Tell someone dear to you that you are glad to have them in your life.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTears of Fulfilled AffectionThis 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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