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

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 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 5.17.2

Who is speaking and story frame

यत्र ह वाव वीरव्रत औत्तानपादि: परमभागवतोऽस्मत्कुलदेवताचरणारविन्दोदकमिति यामनुसवनमुत्कृष्यमाणभगवद्भ‍‌क्‍तियोगेन द‍ृढं क्लिद्यमानान्तर्हृदय औत्कण्ठ्यविवशामीलितलोचनयुगलकुड्‌मलविगलितामलबाष्पकलयाभिव्यज्यमानरोमपुलककुलकोऽधुनापि परमादरेण शिरसा बिभर्ति ॥ २ ॥

yatra ha vāva vīra-vrata auttānapādiḥ parama-bhāgavato ’smat-kula-devatā-caraṇāravindodakam iti yām anusavanam utkṛṣyamāṇa-bhagavad-bhakti-yogena dṛḍhaṁ klidyamānāntar-hṛdaya autkaṇṭhya-vivaśāmīlita-locana-yugala-kuḍmala-vigalitāmala-bāṣpa-kalayābhivyajyamāna-roma-pulaka-kulako ’dhunāpi paramādareṇa śirasā bibharti.

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja, the famous son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, is known as the most exalted devotee of the Supreme Lord because of his firm determination in executing devotional service. Knowing that the sacred Ganges water washes the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, Dhruva Mahārāja, situated on his own planet, to this very day accepts that water on his head with great devotion. Because he constantly thinks of Kṛṣṇa very devoutly within the core of his heart, he is overcome with ecstatic anxiety. Tears flow from his half-open eyes, and eruptions appear on his entire body.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Firm Devotion Deepens Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    A person firmly fixed in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called vīra-vrata, fully determined. Dhruva Mahārāja exemplifies this determination.

  2. 2

    Knowing that the Ganges washes Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet, Dhruva Mahārāja accepts her water on his head with great devotion.

  3. 3

    Dhruva Mahārāja constantly thinks of Kṛṣṇa within his heart. His tears upon remembering the Lord are a symptom of a mahā-bhāgavata, an exalted devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person is firmly fixed in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is described as vīra-vrata, fully determined.
  • Such a devotee increases his ecstasy in devotional service more and more.
  • Thus as soon as he remembers Lord Viṣṇu, his eyes fill with tears.

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

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 17: The Descent of the River Ganges

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Viṣṇu once approached Bali Mahārāja while the King was performing a sacrifice. The Lord appeared before him as Trivikrama, or Vāmana, and begged alms from the King in the form of three steps of land.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.17
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatra ha vāvain Dhruvaloka
  2. vīra-vrataḥfirmly determined
  3. auttānapādiḥthe famous son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda
  4. parama-bhāgavataḥthe most exalted devotee
  5. asmatour
  6. kula-devatāof the family Deity
  7. caraṇa-aravindaof the lotus feet
  8. udakamin the water
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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 5.17

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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “ecstatic”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where could I become more steady in my devotional service?

Practice

Set aside two quiet minutes today to remember Kṛṣṇa with devotion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayFirm Devotion Deepens Remembrance of KṛṣṇaThis 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 5.17.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.