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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
4.9.494.9.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.50

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

पय: स्तनाभ्यां सुस्राव नेत्रजै: सलिलै: शिवै: । तदाभिषिच्यमानाभ्यां वीर वीरसुवो मुहु: ॥ ५० ॥

payaḥ stanābhyāṁ susrāva

netra-jaiḥ salilaiḥ śivaiḥ

tadābhiṣicyamānābhyāṁ

vīra vīra-suvo muhuḥ

Translation

My dear Vidura, Sunīti was the mother of a great hero. Her tears, together with the milk flowing from her breasts, wet the whole body of Dhruva Mahārāja. This was a great, auspicious sign.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Devotee Is a True Hero

  1. 1

    Sunīti’s tears and milk bathed Dhruva Mahārāja in an auspicious abhiṣeka. In Deity installation, abhiṣeka is the ceremony of washing with milk, yogurt and water.

  2. 2

    This bathing by his mother indicated that Dhruva would soon occupy his father’s throne.

  3. 3

    Dhruva was not only a heroic emperor but also a great devotee. A devotee is a true hero because he conquers the influence of māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • This auspiciousness of the abhiṣeka ceremony performed by his beloved mother was an indication that in the very near future Dhruva Mahārāja would be installed on the throne of his father.
  • It is also significant in this verse that Sunīti, mother of Dhruva Mahārāja, is described as vīra-sū, a mother who produced a great hero.
  • There are many heroes in the world, but there is no comparison to Dhruva Mahārāja, who was not only a heroic emperor of this planet, but also a great 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. payaḥmilk
  2. stanābhyāmfrom both breasts
  3. susrāvabegan to flow down
  4. netra-jaiḥfrom the eyes
  5. salilaiḥby tears
  6. śivaiḥauspicious
  7. tadāat that time
  8. abhiṣicyamānābhyāmbeing wetted
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”, “father’s”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does conquering māyā change your understanding of heroism?

Practice

Set aside one small distraction today and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Devotee Is a True HeroThis 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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