Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 43

Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka

Pole Star

Devanagari script

तं द‍ृष्ट्वोपवनाभ्याश आयान्तं तरसा रथात् । अवरुह्य नृपस्तूर्णमासाद्य प्रेमविह्वल: ॥ ४२ ॥ परिरेभेऽङ्गजं दोर्भ्यां दीर्घोत्कण्ठमना: श्वसन् । विष्वक्सेनाङ्‌घ्रिसंस्पर्शहताशेषाघबन्धनम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ dṛṣṭvopavanābhyāśa āyāntaṁ tarasā rathāt avaruhya nṛpas tūrṇam āsādya prema-vihvalaḥ

Translation

Upon seeing Dhruva Mahārāja approaching the neighboring small forest, King Uttānapāda with great haste got down from his chariot. He had been very anxious for a long time to see his son Dhruva, and therefore with great love and affection he went forward to embrace his long-lost boy. Breathing very heavily, the King embraced him with both arms. But Dhruva Mahārāja was not the same as before; he was completely sanctified by spiritual advancement due to having been touched by the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms

• परिरेभे: embraced
• परिरेभे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्; perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अङ्गजम्: his son
• अङ्गजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दोर्भ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• दोर्भ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (दोर्), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), द्विवचनम्

• दीर्घ-उत्कण्ठ-मनाः: whose mind was long in yearning
• दीर्घ-उत्कण्ठ-मनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—‘दीर्घा उत्कण्ठा यस्य मनः सः’ (longing-minded)

• श्वसन्: breathing (heavily)
• श्वसन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; सहायक-क्रिया (breathing)

• विष्वक्सेन-अङ्घ्रि-संस्पर्श-हत-अशेष-अघ-बन्धनम्: whose remaining bonds of sin were destroyed by touching Viṣvaksena’s feet
• विष्वक्सेन-अङ्घ्रि-संस्पर्श-हत-अशेष-अघ-बन्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्वक्सेन (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘विष्वक्सेनस्य अङ्घ्र्योः संस्पर्शेण हतानि अशेषाणि अघबन्धनानि यस्य तम्’ (whose bonds of sin were destroyed by contact with Viṣvaksena’s feet)

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva Mahārāja
• King Uttānapāda
• Viṣvaksena (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

How does Srimad Bhagavatam describe the purification of sins through devotion to Lord Vishnu?

This verse states that Dhruva’s remaining bondage of sin was destroyed by contact with Viṣvaksena’s lotus feet, showing that direct devotion and the Lord’s grace purify the heart and remove karmic bondage.

Why did King Uttanapada embrace Dhruva Maharaja so intensely when he returned?

Dhruva had been away performing severe devotion, and the king’s long-held yearning culminated on seeing his spiritually transformed son; overwhelmed with parental love, he rushed forward and embraced him.

What is a practical modern-life takeaway from Dhruva’s return and his father’s reaction?

Sincere spiritual practice can profoundly transform a person; when character and purity increase through devotion, relationships also heal and deepen through genuine love and respect.