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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
12.13.1712.13.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.13.18

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.13.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

श्रीमद्भ‍ागवतं पुराणममलं यद्वैष्णवानां प्रियं

यस्मिन् पारमहंस्यमेकममलं ज्ञानं परं गीयते ।

तत्र ज्ञानविरागभक्तिसहितं नैष्कर्म्यमाविष्कृतं

तच्छृण्वन् सुपठन् विचारणपरो भक्त्या विमुच्येन्नर: ॥ १८ ॥

śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ

yasmin pāramahaṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate

tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ

tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ

Translation

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.

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.

Hear and Recite With Faith and Devotion

  1. 1

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is completely free of contamination by the modes of nature. Its extraordinary spiritual beauty makes it dear to the pure devotees of the Lord.

  2. 2

    Even completely liberated souls are eager to hear and narrate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It reveals freedom from material work together with knowledge, renunciation and devotion.

  3. 3

    Those seeking liberation should faithfully serve this literature by hearing and reciting it. Serious understanding, proper hearing and chanting with devotion lead to complete liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is completely free of contamination by the modes of nature, it is endowed with extraordinary spiritual beauty and is therefore dear to the pure devotees of the Lord.
  • The word pāramahaṁsyam indicates that even completely liberated souls are eager to hear and narrate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • Those who are trying to be liberated should faithfully serve this literature by hearing and reciting it with faith and devotion.

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 ofSB 10.12.7-11

Śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyam. For Vaiṣṇavas who are somewhat advanced, or who are fully aware of the glories and potencies of the Lord, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a beloved Vedic literature.

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:

It reveals that spotless, supreme knowledge accessible to the paramahaṁsas, and it also reveals the process by which one can become free from the reactions of material work — a process enriched with knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Having thus glorified the Bhāgavatam, Sūta Gosvāmī meditates upon Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa as the original Absolute Truth, who is perfectly pure, free from all contamination, devoid of sorrow and immortal.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrīmat-bhāgavatamŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam
  2. purāṇamthe Purāṇa
  3. amalamperfectly pure
  4. yatwhich
  5. vaiṣṇavānāmto the Vaiṣṇavas
  6. priyammost dear
  7. yasminin which
  8. pāramahaṁsyamattainable by the topmost devotees
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.13

    In this verse: “chants”, “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”, “understanding”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.13

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring more faith and devotion to my hearing and reciting?

Practice

Read one Bhāgavatam translation aloud with attention, then pause to consider its meaning.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear and Recite With Faith and DevotionOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 12.13.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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