Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 16
Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka
Pole Star
यस्मिन्विरुद्धगतयो ह्यनिशं पतन्ति विद्यादयो विविधशक्तय आनुपूर्व्यात् । तद्ब्रह्म विश्वभवमेकमनन्तमाद्य- मानन्दमात्रमविकारमहं प्रपद्ये ॥ १६ ॥
yasmin viruddha-gatayo hy aniśaṁ patanti vidyādayo vividha-śaktaya ānupūrvyāt tad brahma viśva-bhavam ekam anantam ādyam ānanda-mātram avikāram ahaṁ prapadye
Mon Seigneur, dans Ta manifestation impersonnelle en tant que Brahman, deux éléments opposés—connaissance et ignorance—se présentent sans cesse, et Tes énergies multiples se déploient continuellement. Ce Brahman, un et indivis, originel, immuable, illimité et fait de pure félicité, est la cause de la manifestation du monde. Puisque Tu es ce même Brahman, je T’offre mes respectueuses prosternations.
In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said that the unlimited impersonal Brahman is the effulgence of the transcendental body of Govinda. In that unlimited effulgent aura of the Supreme Personality of Godhead there are innumerable universes with innumerable planets of different categories. Although the Supreme Person is the original cause of all causes, His impersonal effulgence, known as Brahman, is the immediate cause of the material manifestation. Dhruva Mahārāja therefore offered his respectful obeisances unto the impersonal feature of the Lord. One who realizes this impersonal feature can enjoy the unchangeable brahmānanda, described here as spiritual bliss.
FAQs
This verse describes Brahman as the one, infinite, primeval source of the universe—pure bliss (ānanda-mātra) and without transformation (avikāra), even while all diverse energies operate within Him.
After directly beholding the Supreme Lord, Dhruva expresses complete refuge in the Absolute Truth, acknowledging that all powers and opposites are harmonized in Him; surrender is his natural response to that realization.
When life feels full of contradictions, this verse encourages steady devotion and inner grounding—taking shelter of the unchanging Divine while performing duties, trusting that apparent opposites can be reconciled in higher purpose.