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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 12: The Topics of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Summarized
12.12.6812.13.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.12.69

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.12.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स्वसुखनिभृतचेतास्तद्वय‍ुदस्तान्यभावो-

ऽप्यजितरुचिरलीलाकृष्टसारस्तदीयम् ।

व्यतनुत कृपया यस्तत्त्वदीपं पुराणं

तमखिलवृजिनघ्नं व्याससूनुं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ६९ ॥

sva-sukha-nibhṛta-cetās tad-vyudastānya-bhāvo

’py ajita-rucira-līlākṛṣṭa-sāras tadīyam

vyatanuta kṛpayā yas tattva-dīpaṁ purāṇaṁ

tam akhila-vṛjina-ghnaṁ vyāsa-sūnuṁ nato ’smi

Translation

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the son of Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī. It is he who defeats all inauspicious things within this universe. Although in the beginning he was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization and was living in a secluded place, giving up all other types of consciousness, he became attracted by the pleasing, most melodious pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He therefore mercifully spoke this supreme Purāṇa, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the bright light of the Absolute Truth and which describes the activities of the Lord.

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.

Honor Those Who Reveal Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

  1. 1

    One cannot enter the deep transcendental meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam without offering respectful obeisances to Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the other great ācāryas in his line.

  2. 2

    Although Śukadeva Gosvāmī was absorbed in the happiness of Brahman realization, he became attracted by the pleasing, most melodious pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. His attraction turns our attention toward the Lord and devotional service to Him.

  3. 3

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī mercifully spoke Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the bright light of the Absolute Truth, which describes the Lord’s activities. The verse honors him as the spiritual master who defeats all inauspicious things within this universe.

Key points from the purport
  • Without offering respectful obeisances to Śukadeva Gosvāmī and other great ācāryas in his line, one cannot possibly gain the privilege of entering into the deep transcendental meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Twelfth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Topics of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Summarized.”

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

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 17.138

This verse was spoken by Sūta Gosvāmī in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.12.69).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 12: The Topics of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Summarized

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Every verse of this scripture, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, contains the narrations of Lord Śrī Hari, who has innumerable personal forms. Finally, Śrī Sūta offers obeisances to the unborn and unlimited Supreme Soul, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as well as to Śrī Śukadeva, the son of Vyāsa, who is capable of destroying the sins of all living beings.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sva-sukhain the happiness of the self
  2. nibhṛtasolitary
  3. cetāḥwhose consciousness
  4. tatbecause of that
  5. vyudastagiven up
  6. anya-bhāvaḥany other type of consciousness
  7. apialthough
  8. ajitaof Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the unconquerable Lord
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.12

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.12

    In this verse: “mercifully”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.12

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 might respectful gratitude toward Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the ācāryas change the way you approach Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Practice

Before reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today, offer respectful obeisances to Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the great ācāryas in his line.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Those Who Reveal Śrīmad-BhāgavatamThis 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 12.12.69? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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