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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 11: Summary Description of the Mahāpuruṣa
12.11.1012.11.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.11.11-12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

स्वमायां वनमालाख्यां नानागुणमयीं दधत् ।

वासश्छन्दोमयं पीतं ब्रह्मसूत्रं त्रिवृत् स्वरम् ॥ ११ ॥

बिभर्ति साङ्ख्यं योगं च देवो मकरकुण्डले ।

मौलिं पदं पारमेष्ठ्यं सर्वलोकाभयङ्करम् ॥ १२ ॥

sva-māyāṁ vana-mālākhyāṁ

nānā-guṇa-mayīṁ dadhat

vāsaś chando-mayaṁ pītaṁ

brahma-sūtraṁ tri-vṛt svaram

bibharti sāṅkhyaṁ yogaṁ ca

devo makara-kuṇḍale

mauliṁ padaṁ pārameṣṭhyaṁ

sarva-lokābhayaṅ-karam

Translation

His flower garland is His material energy, comprising various combinations of the modes of nature. His yellow garment is the Vedic meters, and His sacred thread the syllable om composed of three sounds. In the form of His two shark-shaped earrings, the Lord carries the processes of Sāṅkhya and yoga, and His crown, bestowing fearlessness on the inhabitants of all the worlds, is the supreme position of Brahmaloka.

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.

The Lord’s Ornaments Carry Sacred Meanings

  1. 1

    The Lord’s flower garland is His material energy, comprising various combinations of the modes of nature.

  2. 2

    His yellow garment is the Vedic meters, and His sacred thread is the syllable om composed of three sounds.

  3. 3

    His shark-shaped earrings carry the processes of Sāṅkhya and yoga. His crown is the supreme position of Brahmaloka and bestows fearlessness on the inhabitants of all worlds.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.