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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
12.11.1912.11.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.11.20

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

अनपायिनी भगवती श्री: साक्षादात्मनो हरे: ।

विष्वक्सेनस्तन्त्रमूर्तिर्विदित: पार्षदाधिप: ।

नन्दादयोऽष्टौ द्वा:स्थाश्च तेऽणिमाद्या हरेर्गुणा: ॥ २० ॥

anapāyinī bhagavatī

śrīḥ sākṣād ātmano hareḥ

viṣvaksenas tantra-mūrtir

viditaḥ pārṣadādhipaḥ

nandādayo ’ṣṭau dvāḥ-sthāś ca

te ’ṇimādyā harer guṇāḥ

Translation

The goddess of fortune, Śrī, who never leaves the Lord’s side, appears with Him in this world as the representation of His internal potency. Viṣvaksena, the chief among His personal associates, is known to be the personification of the Pañcarātra and other tantras. And the Lord’s eight doorkeepers, headed by Nanda, are His mystic perfections, beginning with aṇimā.

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.

Śrī Is the Lord’s Inseparable Spiritual Potency

  1. 1

    Śrī, the goddess of fortune, is the Lord’s internal, superior energy and never leaves His side. She is pure consciousness under the direct shelter of Lord Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    Material nature is directly controlled by Mahā-māyā, the Lord’s inferior energy. Its temporary opulence has its source in the spiritual opulence of the goddess of fortune.

  3. 3

    Viṣvaksena, chief of the Lord’s personal associates, personifies the Pañcarātra and other tantras. His eight doorkeepers, headed by Nanda, represent His mystic perfections, beginning with aṇimā.

Key points from the purport
  • Still, the opulence of the Lord’s inferior nature has its source in the supreme spiritual opulence of the goddess of fortune.
  • The goddess of fortune, on the other hand, is known as the superior nature.
  • Thus, although the inferior energy of the Lord is infallible in her function, her power to manifest temporary illusory opulences exists by the grace of the internal energy, the goddess of fortune, who is the personal consort of the Supreme Lord.

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:

To sustain the world, the Personality of Godhead manifests His potency of time as the sun and travels throughout the twelve months, beginning with Caitra, along with twelve sets of personal associates. One who remembers the opulences of the Personality of Godhead Śrī Hari in His form as the sun will become free of his sinful reactions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anapāyinīinseparable
  2. bhagavatīthe goddess of fortune
  3. śrīḥŚrī
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. ātmanaḥof the internal nature
  6. hareḥof Lord Hari
  7. viṣvaksenaḥViṣvaksena
  8. tantra-mūrtiḥas the personification of the tantra scriptures
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 12.11

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.11

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 12.11

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 does knowing the spiritual source of material opulence change my view of wealth?

Practice

Choose one material comfort you use today and briefly remember that its opulence ultimately comes from the goddess of fortune.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 12.11's connections

Live this todayŚrī Is the Lord’s Inseparable Spiritual PotencyThis 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 12.11.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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