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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 ›
Canto 12 · Chapter 10: Lord Śiva and Umā Glorify Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi
12.10.2512.10.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.10.26inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

इति चन्द्रललामस्य धर्मगुह्योपबृंहितम् ।

वचोऽमृतायनमृषिर्नातृप्यत् कर्णयो: पिबन् ॥ २६ ॥

sūta uvāca

iti candra-lalāmasya

dharma-gahyopabṛṁhitam

vaco ’mṛtāyanam ṛṣir

nātṛpyat karṇayoḥ piban

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Drinking with his ears Lord Śiva’s nectarean words, full of the confidential essence of religion, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi could not be satiated.

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.

Value Spiritual Wisdom, Not Personal Praise

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva’s words were like nectar, filled with the confidential essence of religion.

  2. 2

    Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi was not eager to hear himself praised. He appreciated Lord Śiva’s deep realization of religious principles.

  3. 3

    The sage could not feel satisfied with hearing those words and desired to hear more.

Key points from the purport
  • Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi was not eager to hear himself praised by Lord Śiva, but he appreciated Lord Śiva’s deep realization of religious principles and therefore desired to hear more.

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. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. candra-lalāmasyaof Lord Śiva, who is decorated with the moon
  4. dharma-guhyawith the secret essence of religion
  5. upabṛṁhitamfilled
  6. vacaḥthe words
  7. amṛta-ayanamthe reservoir of nectar
  8. ṛṣiḥthe sage
3

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

When someone speaks appreciatively of me, do I seek praise or listen for something spiritually valuable?

Practice

Reread one spiritual instruction today, focusing on what it teaches rather than how it makes you feel about yourself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayValue Spiritual Wisdom, Not Personal PraiseThis 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 12.10.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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