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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.
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Canto 12 · Chapter 10: Lord Śiva and Umā Glorify Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi
12.10.812.10.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.10.9

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.10.8inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तयोरागमनं साक्षादीशयोर्जगदात्मनो: ।

न वेद रुद्धधीवृत्तिरात्मानं विश्वमेव च ॥ ९ ॥

tayor āgamanaṁ sākṣād

īśayor jagad-ātmanoḥ

na veda ruddha-dhī-vṛttir

ātmānaṁ viśvam eva ca

Translation

Because Mārkaṇḍeya’s material mind had stopped functioning, the sage failed to notice that Lord Śiva and his wife, the controllers of the universe, had personally come to see him. Mārkaṇḍeya was so absorbed in meditation that he was unaware of either himself or the external world.

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.

Meditation Beyond Awareness of the World

  1. 1

    Mārkaṇḍeya’s material mind had stopped functioning during his meditation.

  2. 2

    He did not notice that Lord Śiva and his wife, the controllers of the universe, had personally come to see him.

  3. 3

    His absorption was so deep that he was unaware of either himself or the external world.

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:

At the request of Pārvatī, Lord Śiva presented himself before the sage to grant him the result of his austerities. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tayoḥof the two of them
  2. āgamanamthe arrival
  3. sākṣātin person
  4. īśayoḥof the powerful personalities
  5. jagat-ātmanoḥthe controllers of the universe
  6. na vedahe did not notice
  7. ruddhachecked
  8. dhī-vṛttiḥthe functioning of his mind
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

  • 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

What distractions most often pull my attention away from meditation?

Practice

Put away one source of distraction during a short period of meditation today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditation Beyond Awareness of the WorldThis 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.

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