UNIT - 16

SB Canto 4 Chapter 8 (Dhruva Mahäräja Leaves Home For The

Forest)

1. Explain the meaning of ürdhva-retasaù. What is its significance? (1)

Instead of allowing their semen to be driven downwards, they used to lift the semen up to the brain.
They are called ürdhva-retasaù, those who lift up. Semen is so important that if, by the yogic process,
one can lift the semen up to the brain, he can perform wonderful work—one's memory is enabled to
act very swiftly, and the duration of life is increased

2. Give reasons why Maitreya wanted to relate the activities of Dhruva Mahäräja (8)
Maitreya was very eager to describe pious activities. The incidents in the life of Dhruva Mahäräja are
very attractive for devotees. From his pious actions, one can learn how one can detach himself from
material possessions and how one can enhance one's devotional service by severe austerities and
penances.

3. What do the words eka-matyä signify? (21)

The words eka-matyä mean concentrating one's mind on the Lord without deviation.

4. What Sanskrit words indicate the Lord’s kindness to His devotees? (22)
bhåtya-vatsala, which indicates that He is very kind to His devotees.

5. How did Närada overhear all these topics of Dhruva Mahäräja’s activities? (25)
Närada is trikäla-jïa; he is so powerful that he can understand the past, future and present of
everyone's heart, just like the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

6. Relate Närada’s first advice to Dhruva. Why did he advise him in this way? (32)
My dear boy, you should not endeavor for mystic process of meditation to achieve the mercy of the
Lord, but in my opinion such austerities are not possible for any ordinary man; it will not be
successful. It is better that you go home. When you are grown up, by the mercy of the Lord you will
get a chance for these mystic performances.
The great sage Närada is instructing Dhruva Mahäräja just to test him. Actually, the direct order is that
from any point of life one should begin rendering devotional service. But it is the duty of the spiritual
master to test the disciple to see how seriously he desires to execute devotional service.
7. What is Närada's formula for being aloof from the miseries of this world? (34)
when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets
someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets
someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by
the threefold miseries of this material world.

8. What is the essential instruction from the life of Dhruva Mahäräja? (35)
those who have material desires are prohibited from worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
This is the essential instruction from the life of Dhruva.

9. What is, and what is not, the duty of the spiritual master? Give an example (40)
Närada Muni could have at once personally given whatever Dhruva Mahäräj wanted, but that is not
the duty of the spiritual master. His duty is to engage the disciple in proper devotional service as
prescribed in the çästras. Just like Kåñëa was similarly present before Arjuna, and even though He
could have given him all facilities for victory over the opposing party without a fight, He did not do
so; instead He asked Arjuna to fight. In the same way, Närada Muni asked Dhruva Mahäräja to
undergo devotional discipline in order to achieve the desired result.

10. Why is the word puruñam significant? (47)

The word puruñam is very significant. The Lord is never female. He is always male (puruña).

11. What is the significance of Närada’s giving Dhruva the praëava mantra? (54)
Dhruva was allowed, on the authority of Närada, to pronounce the praëava oàkära. This is very
significant. Especially in India, the caste brähmaëas object greatly when persons from other castes,
who are not born in brähmaëa families, recite this praëava mantra. But here is tacit proof that if a
person accepts the Vaiñëava mantra or Vaiñëava way of worshiping the Deity, he is allowed to chant
the praëava mantra.

12. Describe the importance of deça-käla (54 and 55)

The method of worship—chanting the mantra and preparing the forms of the Lord—is not
stereotyped, nor is it exactly the same everywhere. It is specifically mentioned in this verse that one
should take consideration of the time, place and available conveniences.
Çrémad Véraräghava Äcärya, an äcärya in the disciplic succession of the Rämänuja-sampradäya, has
remarked in his commentary that caëòälas, or conditioned souls who are born in lower than çüdra
families, can also be initiated according to circumstances. The formalities may be slightly changed
here and there to make them Vaiñëavas.

13. What was the cause of Uttänapäda's not behaving well toward Dhruva? (65)
Uttänapäda' was too attached to the second wife, so he could not behave well with Dhruva Mahäräja.
That was the cause of Dhruva's leaving home to perform austerities. Although as a father the king was
affectionate toward his son, he minimized his affection for Dhruva Mahäräja because he was too
much addicted to the second wife

14. What is nagna-mätåkä logic? (79)

By this logic one would think that because his mother in her childhood was naked, she should remain
naked even when she is grown up.

15. What is the meaning of viçvaà pürëa-sukhäyate? (81)

Viçvaà pürëa-sukhäyate (Caitanya-candrämåta): devotees are free from all problems because they are
fully surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

16. How do the Mäyävädé philosophers misinterpret the word saìgatätmä? (82)
Mäyävädé philosophers, who say that the self of Dhruva Mahäräja became one with the Supreme Self,
the Personality of Godhead. The Mäyävädé philosophers want to prove by this word that the
Supersoul and the individual soul become united in this way and that after such unification the
individual soul has no separate existence.

SB Canto 4 Chapter 9 (Dhruva Mahäräja Returns Home)

1. Why is Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu described as Sahasraçérñä Viñëu? (1)

The word sahasraçérñä refers to the Personality of Godhead known as Garbhodakaçäyé Viñëu.
Although the Lord appeared as Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu, He has been described here as Sahasraçérñä
Viñëu because He is nondifferent from Garbhodakaçäyé Viñëu.

2. Explain the term brahma-maya (4)

When Dhruva Mahäräja felt hesitant, not knowing how to describe the Lord for want of sufficient
experience, the Lord, out of His causeless mercy, touched His conchshell to Dhruva's forehead, and he
was transcendentally inspired. This transcendental inspiration is called brahma-maya

3. What was the result of Dhruva Mahäräja’s empowerment by the Lord? (5)
as soon as the Lord appeared and touched his forehead with His conchshell, automatically the entire
Vedic conclusion was revealed to him.

4. What is the process of understanding Vedic literature? (5)

. One cannot understand Vedic literature simply by academic learning. The Vedas indicate that only to
one who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord as well as in the spiritual master is the Vedic
conclusion revealed. That is the process of understanding Vedic literature

5. Which of Dhruva’s sleeping senses became especially enlivened? (6)

On seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, Dhruva could understand that his life
force and activities had been sleeping.

6. What is the difference between mäyä and sva-dhäma? (7)

The original energy inspires a devotee, and thus he engages all his bodily limbs in the service of the
Lord. The same energy, as external potency, engages the ordinary nondevotees in material activities
for sense enjoyment. the Lord's spiritual energy for devotees the sva-dhämna acts, whereas in the case
of nondevotees the mäyä energy acts.

7. What is the analogy regarding patatäà vimänät? (10)

The words patatäà vimänät are very significant. Vimäna means "airplane." Those who are elevated to
the heavenly planets are like airplanes, which drop when they run out of fuel.

8. What is the term for persons who are very advanced but still not able to understand the
personal features or variegatedness of the spiritual world? (16)
Brahman manifestation, of the Supreme Lord is meant for persons who are essentially very advanced
but still not able to understand the personal features or variegatedness of the spiritual world. Such
devotees are known as jïäna-miçra-bhaktas, or devotees whose devotional service is mixed with
empiric knowledge.

9. What example does Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura give to explain the different levels
of transcendentalists with their different visions of the Absolute Truth? (16)
A person proceeding towards a destination. As he approaches, he sees the destination from a distant
place, just as we see a city from a distance. At that time he simply understands that the city is situated
at a distance. When, however, he comes still nearer, he sees the domes and flags. But as soon as he
enters the city, he sees various paths, gardens, lakes, and marketplaces with shops, and persons
buying. He sees varieties of cinema houses, and he sees dancing and jubilation. When a person
actually enters the city and personally sees the activities of the city, he becomes satisfied.

10. What are the two different energies of Brahman? (16)

Although apparently Brahman seems to be devoid of energy, factually it has different energies
working under the headings of knowledge and ignorance.
11. What is the special significance of the polestar, Dhruvaloka? (21)
The specific significance of the polestar, Dhruvaloka is that until the entire universe is annihilated this
planet will remain, even during the devastation which takes place during the night of Lord Brahmä.

12. What additional benedictions did the Lord give Dhruva? (22-24)

 you will rule continuously the entire world for thirty-six thousand years, and all your senses
will continue to be as strong as they are now. You will never become old.
 You will be able to perform many great sacrifices and also give great charities. In this way
you will be able to enjoy the blessings of material happiness in this life, and at the time of
your death you will be able to remember Me.

13. Why was Dhruva not very pleased although the Lord fulfilled his desire? (27)
when Dhruva Mahäräja returned home he was not very much pleased, for although in pure devotional
service there is no demand from the Lord, because of his childish nature he had demanded something.
Thus although the Lord also fulfilled his desire, he was not very pleased. Rather, he was ashamed that
he had demanded something from the Lord, for he should not have done this.
14. How did Sunéti show her greatness? (41)
Sunéti, out of her great compassion and due to being the mother of a great Vaiñëava, did not hesitate
to take the other wife, Suruci, and her son, Uttama, on the same palanquin. That was the greatness of
Queen Sunéti, the mother of the great Vaiñëava Dhruva Mahäräja.

SB Canto 4 Chapter 10 (Dhruva Mahäräja’s Fight With The Yakñas)

1. Why did Mahäräja Uttänapäda not get his son married before he left home? (1)

2. Is Dhruva’s becoming angry, overwhelmed with grief, and envious of his enemies
incompatible with his position as a great devotee? Explain (4)
3. What was significant in the Yakñas’ response to Dhruva’s attack? (9)
4. What is the significance of the word mänava? (14)
5. What advice did the sages give Dhruva when he was bewildered by the mystic tricks of
the Yakñas? (30