1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

12345678910111213

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 ›
Canto 12 · Chapter 10: Lord Śiva and Umā Glorify Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi
12.10.2312.10.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.24

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 12.10.19inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्यामो येऽस्मद्रूपं त्रयीमयम् ।

बिभ्रत्यात्मसमाधानतप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ॥ २४ ॥

brāhmaṇebhyo namasyāmo

ye ’smad-rūpaṁ trayī-mayam

bibhraty ātma-samādhāna-

tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ

Translation

By meditating upon the Supreme Soul, performing austerities, engaging in Vedic study and following regulative principles, the brāhmaṇas sustain within themselves the three Vedas, which are nondifferent from Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and me. Therefore I offer my obeisances unto the brāhmaṇas.

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.

Spiritual Endeavor Culminates in Loving Service

  1. 1

    Through meditation on the Supreme Soul, austerities, Vedic study and regulative principles, the brāhmaṇas sustain the three Vedas within themselves.

  2. 2

    The three Vedas are nondifferent from Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva therefore offers his obeisances to the brāhmaṇas.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee of the Supreme Lord is considered the most elevated of brāhmaṇas. All spiritual endeavor culminates in the loving service of God.

Key points from the purport
  • A pure devotee of the Supreme Lord is considered the most elevated of brāhmaṇas, since all spiritual endeavor culminates in the loving service of God.

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

Further reading

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brāhmaṇebhyaḥto the brāhmaṇas
  2. namasyāmaḥwe offer our respects
  3. yewho
  4. asmat-rūpamthe form of ourselves (Śiva, Brahmā and Viṣṇu)
  5. trayī-mayamrepresented by the three Vedas
  6. bibhraticarry
  7. ātma-samādhānaby meditative trance focused on the Self
  8. tapaḥby austerities
  9. svādhyāyaby study
  10. saṁyamaiḥand by following regulative principles
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my spiritual study become an offering of loving service rather than merely an effort to gain knowledge?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and set the intention to use what you learn in loving service to the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Endeavor Culminates in Loving ServiceThis 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 12.10.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories