1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

12345678910111213

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
12.11.14-1512.11.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.11.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.11.4inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

इन्द्रियाणि शरानाहुराकूतीरस्य स्यन्दनम् ।

तन्मात्राण्यस्याभिव्यक्तिं मुद्रयार्थक्रियात्मताम् ॥ १६ ॥

indriyāṇi śarān āhur

ākūtīr asya syandanam

tan-mātrāṇy asyābhivyaktiṁ

mudrayārtha-kriyātmatām

Translation

His arrows are said to be the senses, and His chariot is the active, forceful mind. His external appearance is the subtle objects of perception, and the gestures of His hands are the essence of all purposeful activity.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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 Merciful Hands Grant Perfection

  1. 1

    The Lord’s arrows represent the senses, His chariot the active, forceful mind, and His external appearance the subtle objects of perception.

  2. 2

    His hand gestures are the essence of purposeful activity. All activity ultimately aims at life’s supreme perfection, which His merciful hands award.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s gestures remove all fear from a devotee’s heart and elevate the devotee to His own association in the spiritual sky.

Key points from the purport
  • All activity is ultimately aimed at the supreme perfection of life, and this perfection is awarded by the merciful hands of the Lord.
  • The gestures of the Lord remove all fear from the heart of a devotee and elevate him to the Lord’s own association in the spiritual sky.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Wonder → Benediction and peace. The work closes by exalting hearing and remembering the Lord.

Chapters 11–13 of Canto 12: The Mahāpuruṣa and the glories of Bhāgavatam. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: Summary Description of the Mahāpuruṣa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śrī Sūta first tells Śaunaka Ṛṣi about the material objects through which one can understand the major limbs, the secondary limbs, the weapons and the garments of Lord Śrī Hari. Then he outlines the process of practical service by which a mortal soul can attain immortality.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. indriyāṇithe senses
  2. śarānHis arrows
  3. āhuḥthey say
  4. ākūtīḥ(the mind with its) active functions
  5. asyaof Him
  6. syandanamthe chariot
  7. tat-mātrāṇithe objects of perception
  8. asyaHis
3

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 12.11

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 12.11

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.11

    In this verse: “merciful”

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

How can remembering the Lord’s mercy help me face a fear today?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering the Lord’s merciful hands and His gift of fearless association.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Merciful Hands Grant PerfectionThis 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 12.11.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories