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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 2: The Symptoms of Kali-yuga
12.2.12-1612.2.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.2.17

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

चराचरगुरोर्विष्णोरीश्वरस्याखिलात्मन: ।

धर्मत्राणाय साधूनां जन्म कर्मापनुत्तये ॥ १७ ॥

carācara-guror viṣṇor

īśvarasyākhilātmanaḥ

dharma-trāṇāya sādhūnāṁ

janma karmāpanuttaye

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving living beings, and the Supreme Soul of all — takes birth to protect the principles of religion and to relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

The Lord Appears to Protect Religion

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Supreme Soul of all.

  2. 2

    He is the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving living beings.

  3. 3

    He takes birth to protect religious principles and relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work.

How it feels

Civilizational dread → Dispassion. Social and cosmic impermanence expose the limits of worldly plans.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 12: The deterioration of Kali and universal dissolution. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: The Symptoms of Kali-yuga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When the Age of Kali has almost ended, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will incarnate. He will appear in the village Śambhala, in the home of the exalted brāhmaṇa Viṣṇuyaśā, and will take the name Kalki.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. cara-acaraof all moving and nonmoving living beings
  2. guroḥof the spiritual master
  3. viṣṇoḥthe Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu
  4. īśvarasyathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. akhilaof all
  6. ātmanaḥof the Supreme Soul
  7. dharma-trāṇāyafor the protection of religion
  8. sādhūnāmof saintly men
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.2

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “religious”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.2

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing the Lord's care for His devotees deepen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Viṣṇu, asking for guidance in serving Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears to Protect ReligionThis 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 12.2.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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