1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.9.514.9.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.52

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

अभ्यर्चितस्त्वया नूनं भगवान्‌प्रणतार्तिहा । यदनुध्यायिनो धीरा मृत्युं जिग्यु: सुदुर्जयम् ॥ ५२ ॥

abhyarcitas tvayā nūnaṁ

bhagavān praṇatārti-hā

yad-anudhyāyino dhīrā

mṛtyuṁ jigyuḥ sudurjayam

Translation

Dear Queen, you must have worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who delivers His devotees from the greatest danger. Persons who constantly meditate upon Him surpass the course of birth and death. This perfection is very difficult to achieve.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Protects His Devotees

  1. 1

    While Dhruva Mahārāja performed austerities in Madhuvana, Sunīti meditated upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and prayed for her son’s safety and good fortune.

  2. 2

    Both mother and son worshiped the Supreme Lord, and both received His supreme benediction. He can rescue His devotees from the greatest danger.

  3. 3

    Death is ordinarily impossible to conquer, yet those who constantly meditate upon the Lord surpass birth and death. By His mercy, Dhruva was not only saved but blessed with the highest perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • Dhruva Mahārāja was the lost child of Queen Sunīti, but during his absence she always meditated upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is able to rescue His devotee from all dangers.
  • In other words, the Lord was worshiped by both the mother and the son, and both were able to achieve the supreme benediction from the Supreme Lord.
  • Ordinarily a king’s son only five years old and away from home in the forest would certainly be supposed dead, but by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not only was he saved, but he was blessed with the highest perfection.

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. abhyarcitaḥworshiped
  2. tvayāby you
  3. nūnamhowever
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. praṇata-ārti-hāwho can deliver His devotees from the greatest danger
  6. yatwhom
  7. anudhyāyinaḥconstantly meditating upon
  8. dhīrāḥgreat saintly persons
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiped”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “danger”, “death”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “saved”, “rescue”, “safety”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might Sunīti’s example guide you when you are worried about someone dear to you?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute praying to the Supreme Lord for a loved one’s safety and good fortune.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Protects His DevoteesThis 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 4.9.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories