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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.5

Who is speaking and story frame

स वै तदैव प्रतिपादितां गिरं

दैवीं परिज्ञातपरात्मनिर्णय: ।

तं भक्तिभावोऽभ्यगृणादसत्वरं

परिश्रुतोरुश्रवसं ध्रुवक्षिति: ॥ ५ ॥

sa vai tadaiva pratipāditāṁ giraṁ

daivīṁ parijñāta-parātma-nirṇayaḥ

taṁ bhakti-bhāvo ’bhyagṛṇād asatvaraṁ

pariśrutoru-śravasaṁ dhruva-kṣitiḥ

Translation

At that time Dhruva Mahārāja became perfectly aware of the Vedic conclusion and understood the Absolute Truth and His relationship with all living entities. In accordance with the line of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, whose fame is widespread, Dhruva, who in the future would receive a planet which would never be annihilated, even during the time of dissolution, offered his deliberate and conclusive prayers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vedic Understanding Leads to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Vedic conclusion was revealed to Dhruva Mahārāja through devotional service and the Lord’s mercy, not merely academic learning. Such understanding is revealed to one with unflinching faith in the Lord and the spiritual master.

  2. 2

    The individual soul is forever a servant of the Supersoul. Offering service in this relationship is called bhakti-yoga, or bhakti-bhāva.

  3. 3

    Dhruva patiently followed the order of his spiritual master, Nārada Muni, and saw the Lord face to face. By the Lord’s causeless mercy, he could then offer fitting prayers.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva Mahārāja never went to any school or academic teacher to learn the Vedic conclusion, but because of his devotional service to the Lord, as soon as the Lord appeared and touched his forehead with His conchshell, automatically the entire Vedic conclusion was revealed to him.
  • The example of Dhruva Mahārāja is that he engaged himself in devotional service to the Lord according to the order of his spiritual master, Nārada Muni.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja offered his prayers to the Lord not in the way of the impersonalist philosophers, but as a devotee.

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. saḥDhruva Mahārāja
  2. vaicertainly
  3. tadāat that time
  4. evajust
  5. pratipāditāmhaving attained
  6. giramspeech
  7. daivīmtranscendental
  8. parijñātaunderstood
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understanding”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your study become an expression of service rather than only an effort to gather knowledge?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking for the Lord’s mercy to understand and serve Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVedic Understanding Leads to Devotional 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.9.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.