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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
4.9.644.9.66

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.9.65

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.9.53inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

उत्तानपादो राजर्षि: प्रभावं तनयस्य तम् । श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वाद्भुततमं प्रपेदे विस्मयं परम् ॥ ६५ ॥

uttānapādo rājarṣiḥ

prabhāvaṁ tanayasya tam

śrutvā dṛṣṭvādbhutatamaṁ

prapede vismayaṁ param

Translation

The saintly King Uttānapāda, hearing of the glorious deeds of Dhruva Mahārāja and personally seeing also how influential and great he was, felt very satisfied, for Dhruva’s activities were wonderful to the supreme degree.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Qualities Bring True Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Although only five years old and a king’s son, Dhruva Mahārāja went to the forest and performed devotional service under strict austerity.

  2. 2

    Dhruva’s spiritual qualifications made him popular among the citizens. His wonderful activities, performed by the Lord’s grace, brought great satisfaction to his father.

  3. 3

    King Uttānapāda was a rājarṣi, a saintly king. Such kings were trained to care for the citizens’ welfare, meeting both their spiritual and physical needs.

Key points from the purport
  • When Dhruva Mahārāja was in the forest executing his austerities, his father, Uttānapāda, heard everything about his very wonderful activities.
  • Mahārāja Uttānapāda was not an ordinary king; he was a rājarṣi, a saintly king.
  • If the head of the government is saintly, certainly the citizens become saintly, and they are very happy because both their spiritual and physical needs and hankerings are satisfied.

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. uttānapādaḥKing Uttānapāda
  2. rāja-ṛṣiḥgreat saintly king
  3. prabhāvaminfluence
  4. tanayasyaof his son
  5. tamthat
  6. śrutvāhearing
  7. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  8. adbhutawonderful
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”, “citizens”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.9

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you give more attention to spiritual qualities when appreciating someone?

Practice

Offer one sincere word of appreciation to someone for their devotion or care for others.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Qualities Bring True SatisfactionThis 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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