Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 51

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

Pole Star

Devanagari script

तां शशंसुर्जना राज्ञीं दिष्टय‍ा ते पुत्र आर्तिहा । प्रतिलब्धश्चिरं नष्टो रक्षिता मण्डलं भुव: ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

tāṁ śaśaṁsur janā rājñīṁ diṣṭyā te putra ārti-hā pratilabdhaś ciraṁ naṣṭo rakṣitā maṇḍalaṁ bhuvaḥ

Translation

The residents of the palace praised the Queen: Dear Queen, your beloved son was lost a long time ago, and it is your great fortune that he now has come back. It appears, therefore, that your son will be able to protect you for a very long time and will put an end to all your material pangs.

Synonyms

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• शशंसुः: praised, congratulated
• शशंसुः: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• राज्ञीम्: the queen
• राज्ञीम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्ञी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ताम् के समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• दिष्ट्या: by good fortune!
• दिष्ट्या: सम्बन्ध (Exclamatory particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोग (interjectional instrumental used as particle); तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण ‘good fortune!’

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आर्ति-हा: destroyer of distress
• आर्ति-हा: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हन्, ‘slayer’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (destroyer of distress)

• प्रतिलब्धः: recovered, regained
• प्रतिलब्धः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुत्रः के विशेषण

• चिरम्: after long (time)
• चिरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (for a long time)

• नष्टः: lost (before)
• नष्टः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नश्, ‘perish/be lost’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुत्रः के विशेषण

• रक्षिता: protector
• रक्षिता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुत्रः के विशेषण

• मण्डलम्: realm, domain
• मण्डलम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुवः: of the earth
• भुवः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vedic/epic genitive form of भुवि/भूः); ‘of the earth’

Characters & Entities

• Sunīti
• Dhruva Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the duty of a king to protect citizens?

This verse highlights the king as “rakṣitā maṇḍalaṁ bhuvaḥ”—the protector of the realm—showing that rulership is meant for safeguarding people and upholding dharma.

Why did the citizens praise the queen when Dhruva returned?

Because Dhruva had been lost for a long time and was safely recovered; the citizens saw his return as divine good fortune and as a hopeful sign that he would protect the kingdom.

Practical application of being an 'ārtihā' (remover of distress) in modern life?

Cultivate devotion and responsibility so your presence reduces others’ anxiety—through protection, reliability, and compassionate service within your family, workplace, and community.