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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.1.39-40

स्त्रीबालगोद्विजघ्नाश्च परदारधनाद‍ृता: ।

उदितास्तमितप्राया अल्पसत्त्वाल्पकायुष: ॥ ३९ ॥

असंस्कृता: क्रियाहीना रजसा तमसावृता: ।

प्रजास्ते भक्षयिष्यन्ति म्‍लेच्छा राजन्यरूपिण: ॥ ४० ॥

strī-bāla-go-dvija-ghnāś ca

para-dāra-dhanādṛtāḥ

uditāsta-mita-prāyā

alpa-sattvālpakāyuṣaḥ

asaṁskṛtāḥ kriyā-hīnā

rajasā tamasāvṛtāḥ

prajās te bhakṣayiṣyanti

mlecchā rājanya-rūpiṇaḥ

Translation

These barbarians in the guise of kings will devour the citizenry, murdering innocent women, children, cows and brāhmaṇas and coveting the wives and property of other men. They will be erratic in their moods, have little strength of character and be very short-lived. Indeed, not purified by any Vedic rituals and lacking in the practice of regulative principles, they will be completely covered by the modes of passion and ignorance.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Royal Appearance Cannot Hide Fallen Conduct

  1. 1

    The purport calls these verses a concise, accurate description of the fallen leaders of this age. In the guise of kings, they will devour the citizenry, murdering innocent women, children, cows and brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    They will covet other men's wives and property. Their moods will be erratic, their strength of character small and their lives very short.

  3. 3

    Without purification through Vedic rituals or the practice of regulative principles, they will be completely covered by the modes of passion and ignorance.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.