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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
4.9.444.9.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.45

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

अभिवन्द्य पितु: पादावाशीर्भिश्चाभिमन्त्रित: । ननाम मातरौ शीर्ष्णा सत्कृत: सज्जनाग्रणी: ॥ ४५ ॥

abhivandya pituḥ pādāv

āśīrbhiś cābhimantritaḥ

nanāma mātarau śīrṣṇā

sat-kṛtaḥ saj-janāgraṇīḥ

Translation

Then Dhruva Mahārāja, the foremost of all nobles, first of all offered his obeisances at the feet of his father and was honored by his father with various questions. He then bowed his head at the feet of his two mothers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Frees the Heart from Animosity

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja offered obeisances to his father and both mothers, including the stepmother whose insults had caused him to leave home.

  2. 2

    Having achieved self-realization and seen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva was freed from material desire. A pure devotee has no animosity toward anyone.

  3. 3

    Lord Caitanya teaches that one must be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the tree to execute devotional service. Such devotion makes a person truly noble.

Key points from the purport
  • It may be questioned why Dhruva Mahārāja offered his respect not only to his mother but also to his stepmother, due to whose insults he had to leave home.
  • The answer is that after achieving perfection by self-realization and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, Dhruva Mahārāja was completely freed from all contamination of material desire.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja, therefore, has in this verse been described as saj-janāgraṇīḥ, the foremost of noble men.

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. abhivandyaworshiping
  2. pituḥof his father
  3. pādauthe feet
  4. āśīrbhiḥwith benedictions
  5. caand
  6. abhimantritaḥwas addressed
  7. nanāmahe bowed
  8. mātarauto his two mothers
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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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “mothers”, “father”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “humbler”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could humility help you respond to someone who has hurt your feelings?

Practice

In one difficult interaction today, offer a respectful response rather than returning an insult.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Frees the Heart from AnimosityThis 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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