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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.
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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.2.30

Who is speaking and story frame

यावत् स पादपद्माभ्यां स्पृशनास्ते रमापति: ।

तावत् कलिर्वै पृथिवीं पराक्रन्तुं न चाशकत् ॥ ३० ॥

yāvat sa pāda-padmābhyāṁ

spṛśan āste ramā-patiḥ

tāvat kalir vai pṛthivīṁ

parākrantuṁ na cāśakat

Translation

As long as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the husband of the goddess of fortune, touched the earth with His lotus feet, Kali was powerless to subdue this planet.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Keeps Kali’s Influence in Check

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the husband of the goddess of fortune. While His lotus feet touched the earth, Kali could not subdue the planet.

  2. 2

    Kali had entered to a slight extent through the impious activities of Duryodhana and his allies.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa consistently suppressed Kali’s influence, which could not flourish until He left the earth.

Key points from the purport
  • Although even during the time of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s presence on earth Kali had entered the earth to a slight extent through the impious activities of Duryodhana and his allies, Lord Kṛṣṇa consistently suppressed Kali’s influence.
  • Kali could not flourish until Lord Kṛṣṇa had left the earth.

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

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 moon, sun and the planet Bṛhaspati enter simultaneously into one constellation and conjoin in the lunar mansion Puṣyā, Satya-yuga will begin. In the order of Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali, the cycle of four ages rotates in the society of living entities in this universe.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāvatas long as
  2. saḥHe, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
  3. pāda-padmābhyāmwith His lotus feet
  4. spṛśantouching
  5. āsteremained
  6. ramā-patiḥthe husband of the goddess of fortune
  7. tāvatfor that long
  8. kaliḥthe Age of Kali
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s power over Kali deepen your desire to serve Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, remembering His lotus feet and expressing your desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Keeps Kali’s Influence in CheckThis 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 12.2.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.