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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 13: The Glories of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
12.13.4-912.13.11-12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.13.10

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.13.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

इदं भगवता पूर्वं ब्रह्मणे नाभिपङ्कजे ।

स्थिताय भवभीताय कारुण्यात् सम्प्रकाशितम् ॥ १० ॥

idaṁ bhagavatā pūrvaṁ

brahmaṇe nābhi-paṅkaje

sthitāya bhava-bhītāya

kāruṇyāt samprakāśitam

Translation

It was to Lord Brahmā that the Supreme Personality of Godhead first revealed the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in full. At the time, Brahmā, frightened by material existence, was sitting on the lotus flower that had grown from the Lord’s navel.

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.

Receive the Lord’s Eternal Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    Before the creation of this universe, Lord Kṛṣṇa enlightened Brahmā with Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Though exalted, Brahmā was frightened by material existence.

  2. 2

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is eternal, transcendental literature, nondifferent from the Absolute Truth. Our experience of temporary objects makes this difficult to understand.

  3. 3

    Lord Caitanya, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself, encouraged people to teach Lord Kṛṣṇa’s message without fear of māyā. Giving up sinful activities and constantly engaging in His saṅkīrtana movement assures victory.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa enlightened Brahmā with the knowledge of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam before the creation of this universe, as indicated here by the word pūrvam.
  • Also, the first verse of the Bhāgavatam states, tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye: “Lord Kṛṣṇa expanded perfect knowledge into the heart of Lord Brahmā.”
  • But Lord Caitanya is so kind that during His missionary activities in eastern and southern India, He freely distributed Kṛṣṇa consciousness to everyone, urging them to become teachers of Bhagavad-gītā.

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

The purport of SB 12.13.10 quotesCC Madhya 7.128

I assure you that the waves of māyā will never stop your progress.”

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 13: The Glories of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, instructed Brahmā in this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, whose narrations produce detachment from matter and which contains the essence of all the Vedānta. One who gives the Śrīmad-Bhāgavata Purāṇa as a gift will attain the highest destination.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. idamthis
  2. bhagavatāby the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. pūrvamfirst
  4. brahmaṇeto Brahmā
  5. nābhi-paṅkajeupon the lotus growing from the navel
  6. sthitāyawho was situated
  7. bhavaof material existence
  8. bhītāyawho was fearful
  9. kāruṇyātout of mercy
  10. samprakāśitamwas fully revealed
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.13

    In this verse: “material”, “māyā”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.13

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understand”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 12.13

    In this verse: “sinful”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s guidance to a frightened Brahmā encourage me to receive spiritual knowledge?

Practice

Take a few minutes today to chant Kṛṣṇa’s names attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive the Lord’s Eternal Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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 12.13.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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