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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

12.10.38 12.10.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.10.38inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सोऽप्यवाप्तमहायोगमहिमा भार्गवोत्तम: ।

विचरत्यधुनाप्यद्धा हरावेकान्ततां गत: ॥ ३९ ॥

so ’py avāpta-mahā-yoga-

mahimā bhārgavottamaḥ

vicaraty adhunāpy addhā

harāv ekāntatāṁ gataḥ

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, the best of the descendants of Bhṛgu, is glorious because of his achievement of perfection in mystic yoga. Even today he travels about this world, fully absorbed in unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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.

Perfection Accompanied by Unalloyed Devotion

1
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi is described as the best of the descendants of Bhṛgu.
2
He is glorious because he has achieved perfection in mystic yoga.
3
Even today he travels throughout this world, fully absorbed in unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.10

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saḥhe, Mārkaṇḍeya
apiindeed
avāptahaving achieved
mahā-yogaof the topmost perfection of yoga
mahimāthe glories
bhārgava-uttamaḥthe best descendant of Bhṛgu
vicaratiis traveling about
adhunā apieven today

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
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

What distracts me from making devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead my goal?

Practice

Give a few undistracted minutes today to devotional service, keeping your attention on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Bhṛgu MuniSB 10.89 · Bhṛgu’s test and the brāhmaṇa’s sonsThe chapter identifies tolerance as a sure sign of greatness and establishes Lord Viṣṇu’s supremacy. Arjuna’s unsuccessful search also shows the limits of even an extraordinary warrior’s independent power.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 12.10's connections

Live this todayPerfection Accompanied by Unalloyed 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 12.10.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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