Shloka 18

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

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Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच अथाभिष्टुत एवं वै सत्सङ्कल्पेन धीमता । भृत्यानुरक्तो भगवान् प्रतिनन्द्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca athābhiṣṭuta evaṁ vai sat-saṅkalpena dhīmatā bhṛtyānurakto bhagavān pratinandyedam abravīt

Translation

Maitreya said: O Vidura, when Dhruva Mahārāja, whose heart held noble resolve and whose mind was wise, finished his prayer, Bhagavān—affectionate to His devotees and servants—praised him and spoke as follows.

Synonyms

• maitreyaḥ: Maitreya
• maitreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/conjunction (समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक)

• abhiṣṭutaḥ: praised
• abhiṣṭutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + stu (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having been praised'

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• sat-saṅkalpena: with a noble resolve
• sat-saṅkalpena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'good/true resolve'

• dhīmatā: by the wise one
• dhīmatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; qualifying (implicit) stotṛ/king

• bhṛtya-anuraktaḥ: affectionate to his devotees
• bhṛtya-anuraktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + anurakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'attached to servants/devotees' qualifying bhagavān

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pratinandya: having welcomed
• pratinandya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati + nand (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्): 'having greeted/approved'

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Dhruva Maharaja
• Bhagavan (Vishnu)

FAQs

How does the Supreme Lord respond to sincere prayers in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse says the Lord, being affectionate to His servants, becomes pleased when a devotee with pure resolve offers heartfelt praise, and He responds by speaking and granting guidance or blessings.

Why does Maitreya describe the Lord as 'bhṛtyānuraktaḥ' (affectionate to His servant)?

Because in the Dhruva narrative the Lord is shown as personally attentive to His devotee—approving Dhruva’s pure determination and reciprocating directly, highlighting the personal nature of bhakti.

What is the practical meaning of 'sat-saṅkalpa' (pure resolve) in modern life?

It means aligning one’s goals and decisions with sincerity, integrity, and devotion—seeking the Lord’s pleasure rather than ego-driven results—then acting steadily with that intention.