Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Ten
Dhruva Maharaja’s Fight With the Yaksas
SB4.10.1
TEXT 1
maitreya uvaca
prajapater duhitaram
sisumarasya vai dhruvah
upayeme bhramim nama
tat-sutau kalpa-vatsarau
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca—the great sage Maitreya continued; prajapateh—of the Prajapati; duhitaram—daughter; sisumarasya—of Sisumara; vai—certainly; dhruvah—Dhruva Maharaja; upayeme—married; bhramim—Bhrami; nama—named; tat-sutau—her sons; kalpa—Kalpa; vatsarau—Vatsara.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, thereafter Dhruva Maharaja married the daughter of Prajapati Sisumara, whose name was Bhrami, and two sons named Kalpa and Vatsara were born of her.
PURPORT
It appears that Dhruva Maharaja married after being installed on the throne of his father and after the departure of his father to the forest for self-realization. It is very important to note in this connection that since Maharaja Uttanapada was greatly affectionate towards his son, and since it is the duty of a father to get his sons and daughters married as quickly as possible, why did he not get his son married before he left home? The answer is that Maharaja Uttanapada was a rajarsi, saintly king. Although he was busy in his political affairs and duties of government management, he was very anxious for self-realization. Therefore as soon as his son Dhruva Maharaja was quite worthy to take charge of the government, he took this opportunity to leave home, just like his son, who, without fear, left home for self-realization, even at the age of five years. These are rare instances from which we can see that the importance of spiritual realization is above all other important work. Maharaja Uttanapada knew very well that to get his son Dhruva Maharaja married was not so important that it should take preference to his going away to the forest for self-realization. SB4.10.2 TEXT 2 ilayam api bharyayam vayoh putryam maha-balah putram utkala-namanam yosid-ratnam ajijanat SYNONYMS ilayam—unto his wife named Ila; api—also; bharyayam—unto his wife; vayoh—of the demigod Vayu (controller of air); putryam—unto the daughter; maha-balah—the greatly powerful Dhruva Maharaja; putram—son; utkala—Utkala; namanam—of the name; yosit—female; ratnam—jewel; ajijanat—he begot. TRANSLATION The greatly powerful Dhruva Maharaja had another wife, named Ila, who was the daughter of the demigod Vayu. By her he begot a son named Utkala and a very beautiful daughter. SB4.10.3 TEXT 3 uttamas tv akrtodvaho mrgayayam baliyasa hatah punya-janenadrau tan-matasya gatim gata SYNONYMS uttamah—Uttama; tu—but; akrta—without; udvahah—marriage; mrgayayam—on a hunting excursion; baliyasa—very powerful; hatah—was killed; punya-janena—by a Yaksa; adrau—on the Himalaya Mountains; tat—his; mata—mother (Suruci); asya—of her son; gatim—way; gata—followed. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja’s younger brother Uttama, who was still unmarried, once went on a hunting excursion and was killed by a powerful Yaksa in the Himalaya Mountains. Along with him, his mother, Suruci, also followed the path of her son [she died]. SB4.10.4 TEXT 4 dhruvo bhratr-vadham srutva kopamarsa-sucarpitah jaitram syandanam asthaya gatah punya-janalayam SYNONYMS dhruvah—Dhruva Maharaja; bhratr-vadham—the killing of his brother; srutva—hearing this news; kopa—anger; amarsa—vengeance; suca—lamentation; arpitah—being filled with; jaitram—victorious; syandanam—chariot; asthaya—getting on; gatah—went; punya-jana-alayam—to the city of the Yaksas. TRANSLATION When Dhruva Maharaja heard of the killing of his brother Uttama by the Yaksas in the Himalaya Mountains, being overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, he got on his chariot and went out for victory over the city of the Yaksas, Alakapuri. PURPORT Dhruva Maharaja’s becoming angry, overwhelmed with grief, and envious of the enemies was not incompatible with his position as a great devotee. It is a misunderstanding that a devotee should not be angry, envious or overwhelmed by lamentation. Dhruva Maharaja was the king, and when his brother was unceremoniously killed, it was his duty to take revenge against the Yaksas from the Himalayas. SB4.10.5 TEXT 5 gatvodicim disam raja rudranucara-sevitam dadarsa himavad-dronyam purim guhyaka-sankulam SYNONYMS gatva—going; udicim—northern; disam—direction; raja—King Dhruva; rudra-anucara—by followers of Rudra, Lord Siva; sevitam—inhabited; dadarsa—saw; himavat—Himalayan; dronyam—in a valley; purim—a city; guhyaka—ghostly persons; sankulam—full of. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja went to the northern direction of the Himalayan range. In a valley he saw a city full of ghostly persons who were followers of Lord Siva. PURPORT In this verse it is stated that the Yaksas are more or less devotees of Lord Siva. By this indication the Yaksas may be taken to be the Himalayan tribes like the Tibetans. SB4.10.6 TEXT 6 dadhmau sankham brhad-bahuh kham disas canunadayan yenodvigna-drsah ksattar upadevyo ’trasan bhrsam SYNONYMS dadhmau—blew; sankham—conchshell; brhat-bahuh—the mighty-armed; kham—the sky; disah ca—and all directions; anunadayan—causing to resound; yena—by which; udvigna-drsah—appeared very anxious; ksattah—my dear Vidura; upadevyah—the wives of the Yaksas; atrasan—became frightened; bhrsam—greatly. TRANSLATION Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, as soon as Dhruva Maharaja reached Alakapuri, he immediately blew his conchshell, and the sound reverberated throughout the entire sky and in every direction. The wives of the Yaksas became very much frightened. From their eyes it was apparent that they were full of anxiety. SB4.10.7 TEXT 7 tato niskramya balina upadeva-maha-bhatah asahantas tan-ninadam abhipetur udayudhah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; niskramya—coming out; balinah—very powerful; upadeva—of Kuvera; maha-bhatah—great soldiers; asahantah—unable to tolerate; tat—of the conchshell; ninadam—sound; abhipetuh—attacked; udayudhah—equipped with various weapons. TRANSLATION O hero Vidura, the greatly powerful heroes of the Yaksas, unable to tolerate the resounding vibration of the conchshell of Dhruva Maharaja, came forth from their city with weapons and attacked Dhruva. SB4.10.8 TEXT 8 sa tan apatato vira ugra-dhanva maha-rathah ekaikam yugapat sarvan ahan banais tribhis tribhih SYNONYMS sah—Dhruva Maharaja; tan—all of them; apatatah—falling upon him; virah—hero; ugra-dhanva—powerful bowman; maha-rathah—who could fight with many chariots; eka-ekam—one after another; yugapat—simultaneously; sarvan—all of them; ahan—killed; banaih—by arrows; tribhih tribhih—by threes. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja, who was a great charioteer and certainly a great bowman also, immediately began to kill them by simultaneously discharging arrows three at a time. SB4.10.9 TEXT 9 te vai lalata-lagnais tair isubhih sarva eva hi matva nirastam atmanam asamsan karma tasya tat SYNONYMS te—they; vai—certainly; lalata-lagnaih—intent upon their heads; taih—by those; isubhih—arrows; sarve—all of them; eva—certainly; hi—without fail; matva—thinking; nirastam—defeated; atmanam—themselves; asamsan—praised; karma—action; tasya—of him; tat—that. TRANSLATION When the heroes of the Yaksas saw that all their heads were being thus threatened by Dhruva Maharaja, they could very easily understand their awkward position, and they concluded that they would certainly be defeated. But, as heroes, they lauded the action of Dhruva. PURPORT This spirit of fighting in a sporting attitude is very significant in this verse. The Yaksas were severely attacked. Dhruva Maharaja was their enemy, but still, upon witnessing the wonderful, heroic acts of Maharaja Dhruva, they were very pleased with him. This straightforward appreciation of an enemy’s prowess is a characteristic of real ksatriya spirit. SB4.10.10 TEXT 10 te ’pi camum amrsyantah pada-sparsam ivoragah sarair avidhyan yugapad dvi-gunam pracikirsavah SYNONYMS te—the Yaksas; api—also; ca—and; amum—at Dhruva; amrsyantah—being intolerant of; pada-sparsam—being touched by the feet; iva—like; uragah—serpents; saraih—with arrows; avidhyan—struck; yugapat—simultaneously; dvi-gunam—twice as much; pracikirsavah—trying to retaliate. TRANSLATION Just like serpents, who cannot tolerate being trampled upon by anyone’s feet, the Yaksas, being intolerant of the wonderful prowess of Dhruva Maharaja, threw twice as many arrows—six from each of their soldiers—and thus they very valiantly exhibited their prowess. SB4.10.11-12 TEXTS 11–12 tatah parigha-nistrimsaih prasasula-parasvadhaih sakty-rstibhir bhusundibhis citra-vajaih sarair api abhyavarsan prakupitah saratham saha-sarathim icchantas tat pratikartum ayutanam trayodasa SYNONYMS tatah—thereupon; parigha—with iron bludgeons; nistrimsaih—and swords; prasa-sula—with tridents; parasvadhaih—and lances; sakti—with pikes; rstibhih—and spears; bhusundibhih—with bhusundi weapons; citra-vajaih—having various feathers; saraih—with arrows; api—also; abhyavarsan—they showered Dhruva; prakupitah—being angry; sa-ratham—along with his chariot; saha-sarathim—along with his charioteer; icchantah—desiring; tat—Dhruva’s activities; pratikartum—to counteract; ayutanam—of ten-thousands; trayodasa—thirteen. TRANSLATION The Yaksa soldiers were 130,000 strong, all greatly angry and all desiring to defeat the wonderful activities of Dhruva Maharaja. With full strength they showered upon Maharaja Dhruva, along with his chariot and charioteer, various types of feathered arrows, parighas [iron bludgeons], nistrimsas [swords], prasasulas [tridents], parasvadhas [lances], saktis [pikes], rstis [spears] and bhusundi weapons. SB4.10.13 TEXT 13 auttanapadih sa tada sastra-varsena bhurina na evadrsyatacchanna asarena yatha girih SYNONYMS auttanapadih—Dhruva Maharaja; sah—he; tada—at that time; sastra-varsena—by a shower of weapons; bhurina—incessant; na—not; eva—certainly; adrsyata—was visible; acchannah—being covered; asarena—by constant rainfall; yatha—as; girih—a mountain. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja was completely covered by an incessant shower of weapons, just as a mountain is covered by incessant rainfall. PURPORT Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura points out in this connection that although Dhruva Maharaja was covered by the incessant arrows of the enemy, this does not mean that he succumbed in the battle. The example of a mountain peak’s being covered by incessant rain is just suitable, for when a mountain is covered by incessant rain, all dirty things are washed from the body of the mountain. Similarly, the incessant shower of arrows from the enemy gave Dhruva Maharaja new vigor to defeat them. In other words, whatever incompetency he might have had was washed away. SB4.10.14 TEXT 14 haha-karas tadaivasit siddhanam divi pasyatam hato ’yam manavah suryo magnah punya-janarnave SYNONYMS haha-karah—tumult of disappointment; tada—at that time; eva—certainly; asit—became manifest; siddhanam—of all the residents of Siddhaloka; divi—in the sky; pasyatam—who were observing the fight; hatah—killed; ayam—this; manavah—grandson of Manu; suryah—sun; magnah—set; punya-jana—of the Yaksas; arnave—in the ocean. TRANSLATION All the Siddhas from the higher planetary systems were observing the fight from the sky, and when they saw that Dhruva Maharaja had been covered by the incessant arrows of the enemy, they roared tumultuously, “The grandson of Manu, Dhruva, is now lost!” They cried that Dhruva Maharaja was just like the sun and that now he had set within the ocean of the Yaksas. PURPORT In this verse the word manava is very significant. Generally this word is used to mean “human being.” Dhruva Maharaja is also described here as manava. Not only is Dhruva Maharaja a descendant of Manu, but all human society descends from Manu. According to Vedic civilization, Manu is the lawgiver. Even today Hindus in India follow the laws given by Manu. Everyone, therefore, in human society is a manava, or descendant from Manu, but Dhruva Maharaja is a distinguished manava because he is a great devotee. The denizens of the planet Siddhaloka, where the residents can fly in the sky without airplanes, were anxious over Dhruva Maharaja’s welfare in the battlefield. Srila Rupa Gosvami says, therefore, that not only is a devotee well protected by the Supreme Lord, but all the demigods, and even ordinary men, are anxious for his security and safety. The comparison given here that Dhruva Maharaja appeared to merge in the ocean of the Yaksas is also significant. When the sun sets on the horizon, it appears that the sun drowns in the ocean, but factually the sun has no difficulty. Similarly, although Dhruva appeared to drown in the ocean of the Yaksas, he had no difficulty. As the sun rises again in due course at the end of night, so Dhruva Maharaja, although he might have been in difficulty (because, after all, it was a fight, and in any fighting activities there are reverses), that did not mean that he was defeated. SB4.10.15 TEXT 15 nadatsu yatudhanesu jaya-kasisv atho mrdhe udatisthad rathas tasya niharad iva bhaskarah SYNONYMS nadatsu—while exclaiming; yatudhanesu—the ghostly Yaksas; jaya-kasisu—proclaiming victory; atho—then; mrdhe—in the fighting; udatisthat—appeared; rathah—the chariot; tasya—of Dhruva Maharaja; niharat—from the mist; iva—like; bhaskarah—the sun. TRANSLATION The Yaksas, being temporarily victorious, exclaimed that they had conquered Dhruva Maharaja. But in the meantime Dhruva’s chariot suddenly appeared, just as the sun suddenly appears from within foggy mist. PURPORT Here Dhruva Maharaja is compared to the sun and the great assembly of the Yaksas to foggy mist. Fog is insignificant in comparison with the sun. Although the sun is sometimes seen to be covered by fog, in fact the sun cannot be covered by anything. Our eyes may be covered by a cloud, but the sun is never covered. By this comparison to the sun, the greatness of Dhruva Maharaja in all circumstances is affirmed. SB4.10.16 TEXT 16 dhanur visphurjayan divyam dvisatam khedam udvahan astraugham vyadhamad banair ghananikam ivanilah SYNONYMS dhanuh—his bow; visphurjayan—twanging; divyam—wonderful; dvisatam—of the enemies; khedam—lamentation; udvahan—creating; astra-ogham—different types of weapons; vyadhamat—he scattered; banaih—with his arrows; ghana—of clouds; anikam—an army; iva—like; anilah—the wind. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja’s bow and arrows twanged and hissed, causing lamentation in the hearts of his enemies. He began to shoot incessant arrows, shattering all their different weapons, just as the blasting wind scatters the assembled clouds in the sky. SB4.10.17 TEXT 17 tasya te capa-nirmukta bhittva varmani raksasam kayan avivisus tigma girin asanayo yatha SYNONYMS tasya—of Dhruva; te—those arrows; capa—from the bow; nirmuktah—released; bhittva—having pierced; varmani—shields; raksasam—of the demons; kayan—bodies; avivisuh—entered; tigmah—sharp; girin—mountains; asanayah—thunderbolts; yatha—just like. TRANSLATION The sharp arrows released from the bow of Dhruva Maharaja pierced the shields and bodies of the enemy, like the thunderbolts released by the King of heaven, which dismantle the bodies of the mountains. SB4.10.18-19 TEXTS 18–19 bhallaih sanchidyamananam sirobhis caru-kundalaih urubhir hema-talabhair dorbhir valaya-valgubhih hara-keyura-mukutair usnisais ca maha-dhanaih astrtas ta rana-bhuvo rejur vira-mano-harah SYNONYMS bhallaih—by his arrows; sanchidyamananam—of the Yaksas who were cut to pieces; sirobhih—with heads; caru—beautiful; kundalaih—with earrings; urubhih—with thighs; hema-talabhaih—like golden palm trees; dorbhih—with arms; valaya-valgubhih—with beautiful bracelets; hara—with garlands; keyura—armlets; mukutaih—and helmets; usnisaih—with turbans; ca—also; maha-dhanaih—very valuable; astrtah—covered; tah—those; rana-bhuvah—battlefield; rejuh—began to glimmer; vira—of the heroes; manah-harah—bewildering the minds. TRANSLATION The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, the heads of those who were cut to pieces by the arrows of Dhruva Maharaja were decorated very beautifully with earrings and turbans. The legs of their bodies were as beautiful as golden palm trees, their arms were decorated with golden bracelets and armlets, and on their heads there were very valuable helmets bedecked with gold. All these ornaments lying on that battlefield were very attractive and could bewilder the mind of a hero. PURPORT It appears that in those days soldiers used to go to the battlefield highly decorated with golden ornaments and with helmets and turbans, and when they were dead the booty was taken by the enemy party. Their falling dead in battle with their many golden ornamental dresses was certainly a lucrative opportunity for the heroes on the battlefield. SB4.10.20 TEXT 20 hatavasista itare ranajirad rakso-ganah ksatriya-varya-sayakaih prayo vivrknavayava vidudruvur mrgendra-vikridita-yuthapa iva SYNONYMS hata-avasistah—the remaining soldiers who were not killed; itare—others; rana-ajirat—from the battlefield; raksah-ganah—the Yaksas; ksatriya-varya—of the greatest of the ksatriyas, or warriors; sayakaih—by the arrows; prayah—mostly; vivrkna—cut to pieces; avayavah—their bodily limbs; vidudruvuh—fled; mrgendra—by a lion; vikridita—being defeated; yuthapah—elephants; iva—like. TRANSLATION The remaining Yaksas who somehow or other were not killed had their limbs cut to pieces by the arrows of the great warrior Dhruva Maharaja. Thus they began to flee, just as elephants flee when defeated by a lion. SB4.10.21 TEXT 21 apasyamanah sa tadatatayinam maha-mrdhe kancana manavottamah purim didrksann api navisad dvisam na mayinam veda cikirsitam janah SYNONYMS apasyamanah—while not observing; sah—Dhruva; tada—at that time; atatayinam—armed opposing soldiers; maha-mrdhe—in that great battlefield; kancana—any; manava-uttamah—the best of the human beings; purim—the city; didrksan—wishing to see; api—although; na avisat—did not enter; dvisam—of the enemies; na—not; mayinam—of the mystics; veda—knows; cikirsitam—the plans; janah—anyone. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja, the best of human beings, observed that in that great battlefield not one of the opposing soldiers was left standing with proper weapons. He then desired to see the city of Alakapuri, but he thought to himself, “No one knows the plans of the mystic Yaksas.” SB4.10.22 TEXT 22 iti bruvams citra-rathah sva-sarathim yattah paresam pratiyoga-sankitah susrava sabdam jaladher iveritam nabhasvato diksu rajo ’nvadrsyata SYNONYMS iti—thus; bruvan—talking; citra-rathah—Dhruva Maharaja, whose chariot was very beautiful; sva-sarathim—to his charioteer; yattah—being on guard; paresam—from his enemies; pratiyoga—counterattack; sankitah—being apprehensive; susrava—heard; sabdam—sound; jaladheh—from the ocean; iva—as if; iritam—resounded; nabhasvatah—because of wind; diksu—in all directions; rajah—dust; anu—then; adrsyata—was perceived. TRANSLATION In the meantime, while Dhruva Maharaja, doubtful of his mystic enemies, was talking with his charioteer, they heard a tremendous sound, as if the whole ocean were there, and they found that from the sky a great dust storm was coming over them from all directions. SB4.10.23 TEXT 23 ksanenacchaditam vyoma ghananikena sarvatah visphurat-tadita diksu trasayat-stanayitnuna SYNONYMS ksanena—within a moment; acchaditam—was covered; vyoma—the sky; ghana—of dense clouds; anikena—with a mass; sarvatah—everywhere; visphurat—dazzling; tadita—with lightning; diksu—in all directions; trasayat—threatening; stanayitnuna—with thundering. TRANSLATION Within a moment the whole sky was overcast with dense clouds, and severe thundering was heard. There was glittering electric lightning and severe rainfall. SB4.10.24 TEXT 24 vavrsu rudhiraughasrk- puya-vin-mutra-medasah nipetur gaganad asya kabandhany agrato ’nagha SYNONYMS vavrsuh—showered; rudhira—of blood; ogha—an inundation; asrk—mucus; puya—pus; vit—stool; mutra—urine; medasah—and marrow; nipetuh—began to fall; gaganat—from the sky; asya—of Dhruva; kabandhani—trunks of bodies; agratah—in front; anagha—O faultless Vidura. TRANSLATION My dear faultless Vidura, in that rainfall there was blood, mucus, pus, stool, urine and marrow falling heavily before Dhruva Maharaja, and there were trunks of bodies falling from the sky. SB4.10.25 TEXT 25 tatah khe ’drsyata girir nipetuh sarvato-disam gada-parigha-nistrimsa- musalah sasma-varsinah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; khe—in the sky; adrsyata—was visible; girih—a mountain; nipetuh—fell down; sarvatah-disam—from all directions; gada—clubs; parigha—iron bludgeons; nistrimsa—swords; musalah—maces; sa-asma—great pieces of stone; varsinah—with a shower of. TRANSLATION Next, a great mountain was visible in the sky, and from all directions hailstones fell, along with lances, clubs, swords, iron bludgeons and great pieces of stone. SB4.10.26 TEXT 26 ahayo ’sani-nihsvasa vamanto ’gnim rusaksibhih abhyadhavan gaja mattah simha-vyaghras ca yuthasah SYNONYMS ahayah—serpents; asani—thunderbolts; nihsvasah—breathing; vamantah—vomiting; agnim—fire; rusa-aksibhih—with angry eyes; abhyadhavan—came forward; gajah—elephants; mattah—mad; simha—lions; vyaghrah—tigers; ca—also; yuthasah—in groups. TRANSLATION Dhruva Maharaja also saw many big serpents with angry eyes, vomiting forth fire and coming to devour him, along with groups of mad elephants, lions and tigers. SB4.10.27 TEXT 27 samudra urmibhir bhimah plavayan sarvato bhuvam asasada maha-hradah kalpanta iva bhisanah SYNONYMS samudrah—the sea; urmibhih—with waves; bhimah—fierce; plavayan—inundating; sarvatah—in all directions; bhuvam—the earth; asasada—came forward; maha-hradah—making great sounds; kalpa-ante—(the dissolution) at the end of a kalpa; iva—like; bhisanah—fearful. TRANSLATION Then, as if it were the time of the dissolution of the whole world, the fierce sea with foaming waves and great roaring sounds came forward before him. SB4.10.28 TEXT 28 evam-vidhany anekani trasanany amanasvinam sasrjus tigma-gataya asurya mayayasurah SYNONYMS evam-vidhani—(phenomena) like this; anekani—many varieties of; trasanani—fearful; amanasvinam—to the less intelligent men; sasrjuh—they created; tigma-gatayah—of heinous nature; asurya—demoniac; mayaya—by illusion; asurah—the demons. TRANSLATION The demon Yaksas are by nature very heinous, and by their demoniac power of illusion they can create many strange phenomena to frighten one who is less intelligent. SB4.10.29 TEXT 29 dhruve prayuktam asurais tam mayam atidustaram nisamya tasya munayah sam asamsan samagatah SYNONYMS dhruve—against Dhruva; prayuktam—inflicted; asuraih—by the demons; tam—that; mayam—mystic power; ati-dustaram—very dangerous; nisamya—after hearing; tasya—his; munayah—the great sages; sam—good fortune; asamsan—giving encouragement for; samagatah—assembled. TRANSLATION When the great sages heard that Dhruva Maharaja was overpowered by the illusory mystic tricks of the demons, they immediately assembled to offer him auspicious encouragement. SB4.10.30 TEXT 30 munaya ucuh auttanapada bhagavams tava sarngadhanva devah ksinotv avanatarti-haro vipaksan yan-namadheyam abhidhaya nisamya caddha loko ’njasa tarati dustaram anga mrtyum SYNONYMS munayah ucuh—the sages said; auttanapada—O son of King Uttanapada; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tava—your; sarnga-dhanva—one who bears the bow called Sarnga; devah—the Lord; ksinotu—may He kill; avanata—of the surrendered soul; arti—the distresses; harah—who removes; vipaksan—enemies; yat—whose; namadheyam—holy name; abhidhaya—uttering; nisamya—hearing; ca—also; addha—immediately; lokah—persons; anjasa—fully; tarati—overcome; dustaram—insurmountable; anga—O Dhruva; mrtyum—death. TRANSLATION All the sages said: Dear Dhruva, O son of King Uttanapada, may the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Sarngadhanva, who relieves the distresses of His devotees, kill all your threatening enemies. The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord Himself. Therefore, simply by chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, many men can be fully protected from fierce death without difficulty. Thus a devotee is saved. PURPORT The great rsis approached Dhruva Maharaja at a time when his mind was very perplexed due to the magical feats exhibited by the Yaksas. A devotee is always protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His inspiration only, the sages came to encourage Dhruva Maharaja and assure him that there was no danger because he was a soul fully surrendered to the Supreme Lord. By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant His holy name—Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—simply by chanting this maha-mantra, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one can surpass the ocean of death, so Dhruva Maharaja was certainly able to surpass the illusory magical feats of the Yaksas, which for the time being disturbed his mind. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Dhruva Maharaja’s Fight With the Yaksas.”