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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
12.11.1312.11.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.11.14-15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

ओज:सहोबलयुतं मुख्यतत्त्वं गदां दधत् ।

अपां तत्त्वं दरवरं तेजस्तत्त्वं सुदर्शनम् ॥ १४ ॥

नभोनिभं नभस्तत्त्वमसिं चर्म तमोमयम् ।

कालरूपं धनु: शार्ङ्गं तथा कर्ममयेषुधिम् ॥ १५ ॥

ojaḥ-saho-bala-yutaṁ

mukhya-tattvaṁ gadāṁ dadhat

apāṁ tattvaṁ dara-varaṁ

tejas-tattvaṁ sudarśanam

nabho-nibhaṁ nabhas-tattvam

asiṁ carma tamo-mayam

kāla-rūpaṁ dhanuḥ śārṅgaṁ

tathā karma-mayeṣudhim

Translation

The club the Lord carries is the chief element, prāṇa, incorporating the potencies of sensory, mental and physical strength. His excellent conchshell is the element water, His Sudarśana disc the element fire, and His sword, pure as the sky, the element ether. His shield embodies the mode of ignorance, His bow, named Śārṅga, time, and His arrow-filled quiver the working sensory organs.

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.

Contemplate the Meanings of the Lord’s Weapons

  1. 1

    The Lord’s club is the chief element, prāṇa, incorporating sensory, mental and physical strength.

  2. 2

    His conchshell is water, His Sudarśana disc is fire, and His sword, pure as the sky, is ether.

  3. 3

    His shield embodies the mode of ignorance, His bow Śārṅga is time, and His arrow-filled quiver is the working sensory organs.

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