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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
12.13.2012.13.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.13.21

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

योगीन्द्राय नमस्तस्मै शुकाय ब्रह्मरूपिणे ।

संसारसर्पदष्टं यो विष्णुरातममूमुचत् ॥ २१ ॥

yogīndrāya namas tasmai

śukāya brahma-rūpiṇe

saṁsāra-sarpa-daṣṭaṁ yo

viṣṇu-rātam amūmucat

Translation

I offer my humble obeisances to Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the best of mystic sages and a personal manifestation of the Absolute Truth. He saved Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who was bitten by the snake of material existence.

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.

Pure Devotees Mercifully Enlighten Others

  1. 1

    Sūta Gosvāmī offers obeisances to his spiritual master, Śukadeva Gosvāmī. The translation honors Śukadeva as the best of mystic sages and a personal manifestation of the Absolute Truth.

  2. 2

    King Parīkṣit was a pure, liberated devotee, eternally under the Lord’s protection. He was cursed to die so that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam might be spoken.

  3. 3

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī liberated the king from his so-called illusion. This exhibited the merciful nature of a pure devotee and the enlightening effect of his association.

Key points from the purport
  • Sūta Gosvāmī now offers obeisances to his own spiritual master, Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
  • Actually, King Parīkṣit is viṣṇu-rāta, eternally under the protection of the Lord.
  • Śukadeva Gosvāmī liberated the king from his so-called illusion to exhibit the merciful nature of a pure devotee and the enlightening effect of his association.

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 13: The Glories of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then he offers obeisances to the greatest yogī, Śrī Śukadeva, who is nondifferent from the Absolute Truth. Finally, praying with true devotion, Sūta Gosvāmī offers respects to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Hari, who takes away all misery.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yogi-indrāyato the king of mystics
  2. namaḥobeisances
  3. tasmaito him
  4. śukayaŚukadeva Gosvāmī
  5. brahma-rūpiṇewho is a personal manifestation of the Absolute Truth
  6. saṁsāra-sarpaby the snake of material existence
  7. daṣṭambitten
  8. yaḥwho
  9. viṣṇu-rātamParīkṣit Mahārāja
  10. amūmucatfreed
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”, “illusion”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 12.13

    In this verse: “saved”, “protection”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I become more receptive to the enlightening association of a pure devotee?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to Śukadeva Gosvāmī in gratitude for his merciful teaching.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotees Mercifully Enlighten OthersThis 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.

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