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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

12.10.35 12.10.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.36

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.10.35inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कामो महर्षे सर्वोऽयं भक्तिमांस्त्वमधोक्षजे ।

आकल्पान्ताद् यश: पुण्यमजरामरता तथा ॥ ३६ ॥

kāmo maharṣe sarvo ’yaṁ

bhaktimāṁs tvam adhokṣaje

ā-kalpāntād yaśaḥ puṇyam

ajarāmaratā tathā

Translation

O great sage, because you are devoted to Lord Adhokṣaja, all your desires will be fulfilled. Until the very end of this creation cycle, you will enjoy pious fame and freedom from old age and death.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Is the Basis of the Blessings

1
Lord Śiva connects the fulfillment of the sage’s desires with his devotion to Lord Adhokṣaja.
2
He blesses the sage with pious fame until the end of this creation cycle.
3
He also grants freedom from old age and death for that same period.

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

Chapter 10: Lord Śiva and Umā Glorify Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. Those who chant and hear the story of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi will attain liberation from material life, which is based on the accumulated desires generated from fruitive work.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.10

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kāmaḥdesire
mahā-ṛṣeO great sage
sarvaḥall
ayamthis
bhakti-mānfull of devotion
tvamyou
adhokṣajefor the transcendental Personality of Godhead
ā-kalpa-antātup until the end of the day of Brahmā

Key ideas in this verse

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

Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord
How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 12.10
In this verse: “death”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.10
In this verse: “blesses”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.10
In this verse: “devotion”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I giving more attention to devotion or to the blessings I hope to receive?

Practice

Set aside a quiet minute today to focus on devotion to the Lord rather than asking for a reward.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Is the Basis of the BlessingsThis 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 12.10.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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