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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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How to study this verse, in six steps

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

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 12 · Chapter 10: Lord Śiva and Umā Glorify Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

12.10.11-13 12.10.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.10.8inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

नेत्रे उन्मील्य दद‍ृशे सगणं सोमयागतम् ।

रुद्रं त्रिलोकैकगुरुं ननाम शिरसा मुनि: ॥ १४ ॥

netre unmīlya dadṛśe

sa-gaṇaṁ somayāgatam

rudraṁ tri-lokaika-guruṁ

nanāma śirasā muniḥ

Translation

Opening his eyes, the sage saw Lord Rudra, the spiritual master of the three worlds, together with Umā and Rudra’s followers. Mārkaṇḍeya then offered his respectful obeisances by bowing his head.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Deep Absorption and Respectful Recognition

1
Opening his eyes, Mārkaṇḍeya saw Lord Rudra, the spiritual master of the three worlds, with Umā and his followers. The sage bowed his head in respect.
2
The purport explains that seeing Lord Śiva and Umā within his heart made Mārkaṇḍeya aware of them and of his own individual self.
3
During his trance, he had been absorbed simply in awareness of the Supreme Lord. He had forgotten himself as the conscious perceiver.

Key points from the purport

When Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi saw Lord Śiva and Umā within his heart, he immediately became aware of them and thus also of his own individual self.
During his trance, on the other hand, he had simply been absorbed in awareness of the Supreme Lord and had thus forgotten himself as the conscious perceiver.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Terror and bewilderment → Wonder and surrender. Annihilation gives way to a tender divine vision.

Chapters 9–10 of Canto 12: Mārkaṇḍeya witnesses the deluge and divine child. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 10: Lord Śiva and Umā Glorify Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Coming out of his trance, Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya saw Lord Śiva, the spiritual master of the three worlds, together with Pārvatī, and he worshiped them by offering them obeisances, words of greeting and a sitting place. Then Lord Śiva praised the saintly devotees of the Personality of Godhead and requested Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya to choose whatever benediction he desired.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.10

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

netrehis eyes
unmīlyaopening
dadṛśehe saw
sa-gaṇamwith his associates
sa-umayāand with Umā
āgatamhaving arrived
rudramLord Rudra
tri-lokaof the three worlds

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Mārkaṇḍeya’s absorption differ from keeping yourself at the center of attention?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering the Supreme Lord rather than reviewing your own concerns.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDeep Absorption and Respectful RecognitionThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

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

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 12.10.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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