FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.17.2

यत्र ह वाव वीरव्रत औत्तानपादि: परमभागवतोऽस्मत्कुलदेवताचरणारविन्दोदकमिति यामनुसवनमुत्कृष्यमाणभगवद्भ‍‌क्‍तियोगेन द‍ृढं क्लिद्यमानान्तर्हृदय औत्कण्ठ्यविवशामीलितलोचनयुगलकुड्‌मलविगलितामलबाष्पकलयाभिव्यज्यमानरोमपुलककुलकोऽधुनापि परमादरेण शिरसा बिभर्ति ॥ २ ॥
yatra ha vāva vīra-vrata auttānapādiḥ parama-bhāgavato ’smat-kula-devatā-caraṇāravindodakam iti yām anusavanam utkṛṣyamāṇa-bhagavad-bhakti-yogena dṛḍhaṁ klidyamānāntar-hṛdaya autkaṇṭhya-vivaśāmīlita-locana-yugala-kuḍmala-vigalitāmala-bāṣpa-kalayābhivyajyamāna-roma-pulaka-kulako ’dhunāpi paramādareṇa śirasā bibharti.
[yatra ha vaava veera-vrata auttaanapaadih parama-bhaagavato ’smat-kula-devataa-charanaaravindodakam iti yaam anusavanam utkrishyamaana-bhagavad-bhakti-yogena dridham klidyamaanaantar-hridaya autkanthya-vivashaameelita-lochana-yugala-kudmala-vigalitaamala-baashpa-kalayaabhivyajyamaana-roma-pulaka-kulako ’dhunaapi paramaadarena shirasaa bibharti.]
yatra ha vāva — in Dhruvaloka vīra-vrataḥ — firmly determined auttānapādiḥ — the famous son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda parama-bhāgavataḥ — the most exalted devotee asmat — our kula-devatā — of the family Deity caraṇa-aravinda — of the lotus feet udakam — in the water iti — thus yām — which anusavanam — constantly utkṛṣyamāṇa — being increased bhagavat-bhakti-yogena — by devotional service unto the Lord dṛḍham — greatly klidyamāna-antaḥ-hṛdayaḥ — being softened within the core of his heart autkaṇṭhya — by great anxiety vivaśa — spontaneously amīlita — slightly open locana — of eyes yugala — pair kuḍmala — from the flowerlike vigalita — emanating amala — uncontaminated bāṣpa-kalayā — with tears abhivyajyamāna — being manifested roma-pulaka-kulakaḥ — whose symptoms of ecstasy on the body adhunā api — even now parama-ādareṇa — with great reverence śirasā — by the head bibharti — he bears.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yatra ha vāva vīra-vrata auttānapādiḥ parama-bhāgavato ’smat-kula-devatā-caraṇāravindodakam iti yām anusavanam utkṛṣyamāṇa-bhagavad-bhakti-yogena dṛḍhaṁ klidyamānāntar-hṛdaya autkaṇṭhya-vivaśāmīlita-locana-yugala-kuḍmala-vigalitāmala-bāṣpa-kalayābhivyajyamāna-roma-pulaka-kulako ’dhunāpi paramādareṇa śirasā bibharti.
yatra ha vāva
in Dhruvaloka
vīra-vrataḥ
firmly determined
auttānapādiḥ
the famous son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda
parama-bhāgavataḥ
the most exalted devotee
asmat
our
kula-devatā
of the family Deity
caraṇa-aravinda
of the lotus feet
udakam
in the water
iti
thus
yām
which
anusavanam
constantly
utkṛṣyamāṇa
being increased
bhagavat-bhakti-yogena
by devotional service unto the Lord
dṛḍham
greatly
klidyamāna-antaḥ-hṛdayaḥ
being softened within the core of his heart
autkaṇṭhya
by great anxiety
vivaśa
spontaneously
amīlita
slightly open
locana
of eyes
yugala
pair
kuḍmala
from the flowerlike
vigalita
emanating
amala
uncontaminated
bāṣpa-kalayā
with tears
abhivyajyamāna
being manifested
roma-pulaka-kulakaḥ
whose symptoms of ecstasy on the body
adhunā api
even now
parama-ādareṇa
with great reverence
śirasā
by the head
bibharti
he bears.
Dhruva Mahārāja, the famous son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, is known as the most exalted devotee of the Supreme Lord because of his firm determination in executing devotional service. Knowing that the sacred Ganges water washes the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, Dhruva Mahārāja, situated on his own planet, to this very day accepts that water on his head with great devotion. Because he constantly thinks of Kṛṣṇa very devoutly within the core of his heart, he is overcome with ecstatic anxiety. Tears flow from his half-open eyes, and eruptions appear on his entire body.

When a person is firmly fixed in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is described as vīra-vrata, fully determined. Such a devotee increases his ecstasy in devotional service more and more. Thus as soon as he remembers Lord Viṣṇu, his eyes fill with tears. This is a symptom of a mahā-bhāgavata. Dhruva Mahārāja maintained himself in that devotional ecstasy, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also gave us a practical example of transcendental ecstasy when He lived at Jagannātha Purī. His pastimes there are fully narrated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
On Dhruva-loka, Dhruva Mahārāja, the famous son of Mahārāja Uttānapāda, known as an exalted devotee of the Supreme Lord because of his firm determination in executing devotional service, whose heart is softened with bhakti-yoga increasing at every moment, whose hairs stand on end while tears flow uncontrolled from his closed eyes in great longing, with great respect even now holds on his head that water, thinking “This is the foot water from the deity of our family.” On Dhruva-loka (yatra) Dhruva, with determined vow, his heart softened by bhakti-yoga becoming better at every moment, whose hairs stand on end while pure tears flow uncontrollably from his closed lotus eyes out of great longing, takes the water on his head.
Dhruva, ruler of his own planet, still places sacred water on his head with tears in his eyes. The lesson is that real spiritual advancement does not produce pride or independence; it produces deeper humility and softer emotion. Position never replaces devotion.
Reflection Questions
  • As I gain capability, status, or knowledge, am I becoming more reverent toward the source of grace or more self-assured?
  • What practice keeps my heart soft enough that thinking of the Lord can still move me?
📝 My note

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