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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
12.10.2912.10.31-32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣisince 12.10.28inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

नैतावता भगवत: स्वमायामयवृत्तिभि: ।

न दुष्येतानुभावस्तैर्मायिन: कुहकं यथा ॥ ३० ॥

naitāvatā bhagavataḥ

sva-māyā-maya-vṛttibhiḥ

na duṣyetānubhāvas tair

māyinaḥ kuhakaṁ yathā

Translation

This apparent humility is simply a show of mercy. Such behavior of the Supreme Lord and His personal associates, which the Lord effects by His own bewildering potency, does not spoil His power any more than a magician’s powers are diminished by his exhibition of tricks.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Divine Humility Expresses Mercy

  1. 1

    The apparent humility of the Supreme Lord and His personal associates is a show of mercy.

  2. 2

    The Lord brings about such behavior through His own bewildering potency. It does not diminish His power.

  3. 3

    A magician’s powers are not spoiled by his exhibition of tricks. Similarly, the Lord’s merciful behavior does not lessen His greatness.

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:

Mārkaṇḍeya begged for unflinching devotion to the Supreme Lord Śrī Hari, to the devotees of the Supreme Lord and to Lord Śiva himself. Satisfied with Mārkaṇḍeya’s devotion, Lord Śiva awarded him the boons of renown, freedom from old age and death until the time of universal dissolution, knowledge of all three phases of time, renunciation, realized knowledge and the position of a teacher of the Purāṇas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. etāvatāby such (a show of humility)
  3. bhagavataḥof the Personality of Godhead
  4. sva-māyāof His own illusory energy
  5. mayaconsisting of
  6. vṛttibhiḥby the activities
  7. na duṣyetais not spoiled
  8. anubhāvaḥthe power
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “mercy”, “merciful”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “humility”

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

Can I appreciate the Lord’s humility as mercy without mistaking it for a lack of power?

Practice

Pause today to reflect on how the Lord can show humility while remaining fully powerful.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDivine Humility Expresses MercyThis 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 12.10.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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