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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

12.13.10 12.13.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.13.11-12

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.13.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

आदिमध्यावसानेषु वैराग्याख्यानसंयुतम् ।

हरिलीलाकथाव्रातामृतानन्दितसत्सुरम् ॥ ११ ॥

सर्ववेदान्तसारं यद ब्रह्मात्मैकत्वलक्षणम् ।

वस्त्वद्वितीयं तन्निष्ठं कैवल्यैकप्रयोजनम् ॥ १२ ॥

ādi-madhyāvasāneṣu

vairāgyākhyāna-saṁyutam

hari-līlā-kathā-vrātā-

mṛtānandita-sat-suram

sarva-vedānta-sāraṁ yad

brahmātmaikatva-lakṣaṇam

vastv advitīyaṁ tan-niṣṭhaṁ

kaivalyaika-prayojanam

Translation

From beginning to end, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is full of narrations that encourage renunciation of material life, as well as nectarean accounts of Lord Hari’s transcendental pastimes, which give ecstasy to the saintly devotees and demigods. This Bhāgavatam is the essence of all Vedānta philosophy because its subject matter is the Absolute Truth, which, while nondifferent from the spirit soul, is the ultimate reality, one without a second. The goal of this literature is exclusive devotional service unto that Supreme Truth.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Grow in Exclusive Devotional Service

1
Renunciation means giving up everything that has no relation with the Absolute Truth. The Bhāgavatam encourages this while nourishing devotees with the nectar of Lord Hari’s pastimes.
2
The Absolute Truth is a transcendental person, far beyond material ideas of personality. The beauty of this world is only a dim reflection of the Lord’s unlimited beauty.
3
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam trains the sincere reader in love of Godhead. Its goal is exclusive devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, who is supremely lovable because of His eternal, transcendental qualities.

Key points from the purport

Vairāgya, renunciation, means giving up everything that has no relation with the Absolute Truth.
Thus the ultimate goal of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is to train the sincere reader in love of Godhead.
Without compromise, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam persistently declares the glories of the Absolute Truth and is therefore the supreme spiritual literature, awarding a full taste of the nectar of love of Kṛṣṇa in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.13

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

ādiin the beginning
madhyathe middle
avasāneṣuand the end
vairāgyaconcerning renunciation of material things
ākhyānawith narrations
saṁyutamfull
hari-līlāof the pastimes of Lord Hari
kathā-vrātaof the many discussions

Key ideas in this verse

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

Āśraya · The summum bonum
Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.13
In this verse: “philosophy”, “absolute truth”, “spirit soul”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.13
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 12.13
In this verse: “ecstasy”, “love”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I reading to grow in love and service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read this passage slowly and reflect on one reason it gives for loving Kṛṣṇa.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGrow in Exclusive Devotional ServiceThis 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 12.13.11-12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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