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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 12.10.31-32

Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣisince 12.10.28inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सृष्ट्वेदं मनसा विश्वमात्मनानुप्रविश्य य: ।

गुणै: कुर्वद्भ‍िराभाति कर्तेव स्वप्नद‍ृग् यथा ॥ ३१ ॥

तस्मै नमो भगवते त्रिगुणाय गुणात्मने ।

केवलायाद्वितीयाय गुरवे ब्रह्ममूर्तये ॥ ३२ ॥

sṛṣṭvedaṁ manasā viśvam

ātmanānupraviśya yaḥ

guṇaiḥ kurvadbhir ābhāti

karteva svapna-dṛg yathā

tasmai namo bhagavate

tri-guṇāya guṇātmane

kevalāyādvitīyāya

gurave brahma-mūrtaye

Translation

I offer my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has created this entire universe simply by His desire and then entered into it as the Supersoul. By making the modes of nature act, He seems to be the direct creator of this world, just as a dreamer seems to be acting within his dream. He is the owner and ultimate controller of the three modes of nature, yet He remains alone and pure, without any equal. He is the supreme spiritual master of all, the original personal form of the Absolute Truth.

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.

The Supreme Creator Remains Transcendent

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord creates the universe simply by His desire and enters it as the Supersoul. He releases His material potencies, and creation takes place through their interaction.

  2. 2

    The entire creation unfolds according to His design and will, so His controlling hand is perceived within all things. Yet He remains aloof rather than directly building the world.

  3. 3

    He owns and controls the three modes of nature while remaining pure and without equal. He is the supreme spiritual master and the original personal form of the Absolute Truth.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord releases His material potencies, and by their interaction creation takes place.
  • The Lord remains aloof, as the supreme transcendental entity.
  • People thus imagine that God is the direct builder of this world, although He remains aloof, creating through the manipulation of His multifarious potencies.

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. sṛṣṭvācreating
  2. idamthis
  3. manasāby His mind, simply by His desire
  4. viśvamthe universe
  5. ātmanāas the Supersoul
  6. anupraviśyasubsequently entering
  7. yaḥwho
  8. guṇaiḥby the modes of nature
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “material”

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 does recognizing the Lord’s design and will change the way I view the world?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the creator, controller and supreme spiritual master.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Creator Remains TranscendentThis 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 12.10.31-32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.