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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
12.10.3312.10.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.34

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣisince 12.10.28inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya
A turning point forMārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi· Praise and shelter

वरमेकं वृणेऽथापि पूर्णात् कामाभिवर्षणात् ।

भगवत्यच्युतां भक्तिं तत्परेषु तथा त्वयि ॥ ३४ ॥

varam ekaṁ vṛṇe ’thāpi

pūrṇāt kāmābhivarṣaṇāt

bhagavaty acyutāṁ bhaktiṁ

tat-pareṣu tathā tvayi

Translation

But I do request one benediction from you, who are full of all perfection and able to shower down the fulfillment of all desires. I ask to have unfailing devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and for His dedicated devotees, especially you.

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.

Ask for Unfailing Devotion

  1. 1

    Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi asks for unfailing devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His dedicated devotees, especially Lord Śiva.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva is an eternal servant of God, not the Supreme Lord Himself. As God’s representative, he receives the same respectful treatment as God.

  3. 3

    Pure desire for the Lord’s loving service brings one to the most exalted platform of consciousness. This perfect understanding of life is available only through the special mercy of the Lord’s devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • The words tat-pareṣu tathā tvayi clearly indicate that Lord Śiva is a devotee of the Supreme Lord, not the Supreme Lord Himself.
  • But now it is clearly revealed that, as stated throughout Vedic literature, Lord Śiva is an eternal servant of God and not God Himself.
  • Pure desire to engage in the loving service of the Lord brings one to the most exalted platform of consciousness, and such a perfect understanding of life is available only by the special mercy of the Lord’s devotees.

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:

Then Lord Śiva praised the saintly devotees of the Personality of Godhead and requested Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya to choose whatever benediction he desired. Mārkaṇḍeya begged for unflinching devotion to the Supreme Lord Śrī Hari, to the devotees of the Supreme Lord and to Lord Śiva himself.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. varambenediction
  2. ekamone
  3. vṛṇeI request
  4. atha apinevertheless
  5. pūrṇātfrom him who is completely full
  6. kāma-abhivarṣaṇātwho showers down the fulfillment of desires
  7. bhagavatifor the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. acyutāminfallible
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.10

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

If I could ask for one blessing, would I choose unfailing devotion to the Lord and His devotees?

Practice

Offer a short prayer today for steady loving service to the Supreme Lord and devotion to His dedicated devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAsk for Unfailing DevotionThis 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 12.10.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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