FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.48

प्रयत: कीर्तयेत्प्रात: समवाये द्विजन्मनाम् । सायं च पुण्यश्लोकस्य ध्रुवस्य चरितं महत् ॥ ४८ ॥
prayataḥ kīrtayet prātaḥ
[prayatah keertayet praatah]
samavāye dvi-janmanām
[samavaaye dvi-janmanaam]
sāyaṁ ca puṇya-ślokasya
[saayam cha punya-shlokasya]
dhruvasya caritaṁ mahat
[dhruvasya charitam mahat]
prayataḥ — with great care kīrtayet — one should chant prātaḥ — in the morning samavāye — in the association dvi-janmanām — of the twice-born sāyam — in the evening ca — also puṇya-ślokasya — of sacred renown dhruvasya — of Dhruva caritam — character mahat — great.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prayataḥ kīrtayet prātaḥ
prayataḥ
with great care
kīrtayet
one should chant
prātaḥ
in the morning
samavāye dvi-janmanām
samavāye
in the association
dvi-janmanām
of the twice-born
sāyaṁ ca puṇya-ślokasya
sāyam
in the evening
ca
also
puṇya-ślokasya
of sacred renown
dhruvasya caritaṁ mahat
dhruvasya
of Dhruva
caritam
character
mahat
great.
The great sage Maitreya recommended: One should chant of the character and activities of Dhruva Mahārāja both in the morning and in the evening, with great attention and care, in a society of brāhmaṇas or other twice-born persons.

It is said that only in the association of devotees can one understand the importance of the character and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotees. In this verse it is especially recommended that Dhruva Mahārāja’s character be discussed in a society of the twice-born, which refers to the qualified brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. One should especially seek the society of brāhmaṇas who are elevated to the position of Vaiṣṇavas. Thus discussion of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which describes the character and pastimes of devotees and the Lord, is very quickly effective. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has been organized for this purpose. In every center of this Society — not only in the morning, evening or noon, but practically twenty-four hours a day — there is continuous devotional service going on. Anyone who comes in contact with the Society automatically becomes a devotee. We have actual experience that many karmīs and others come to the Society and find a very pleasing and peaceful atmosphere in the temples of ISKCON. In this verse the word dvi-janmanām means “of the twice-born.” Anyone can join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and be initiated to become twice-born. As recommended by Sanātana Gosvāmī, by the process of initiation and authorized training, any man can become twice-born. The first birth is made possible by the parents, and the second birth is made possible by the spiritual father and Vedic knowledge. Unless one is twice-born one cannot understand the transcendental characteristics of the Lord and His devotees. Study of the Vedas is therefore forbidden for śūdras. Simply by academic qualifications a śūdra cannot understand the transcendental science. At the present moment, throughout the entire world the educational system is geared to produce śūdras. A big technologist is no more than a big śūdra. Kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ: in the Age of Kali, everyone is a śūdra. Because the whole population of the world consists only of śūdras, there is a decline of spiritual knowledge, and people are unhappy. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has been started especially to create qualified brāhmaṇas to broadcast spiritual knowledge all over the world, for thus people may become very happy.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
One should recite this great story of famous Dhruva attentively in the morning and in the evening in the company of brāhmaṇas.
Chant Dhruva's character morning and evening, attentively, in the company of brāhmaṇas or twice-born. Time of day and quality of company together set the conditions for the recitation to land.
Reflection Questions
  • What is my morning and evening practice, and could Dhruva's story enter either?
  • Whom do I currently practice with, and is the company elevating the practice?
📝 My note

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