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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
12.2.3412.2.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.2.35

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्येष मानवो वंशो यथा सङ्ख्यायते भुवि ।

तथा विट्‌शूद्रविप्राणां तास्ता ज्ञेया युगे युगे ॥ ३५ ॥

ity eṣa mānavo vaṁśo

yathā saṅkhyāyate bhuvi

tathā viṭ-śūdra-viprāṇāṁ

tās tā jñeyā yuge yuge

Translation

Thus I have described the royal dynasty of Manu, as it is known on this earth. One can similarly study the history of the vaiśyas, śūdras and brāhmaṇas living in the various ages.

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.

Character Varies in Every Social Order

  1. 1

    The royal dynasty of Manu has been described as it is known on this earth.

  2. 2

    The histories of vaiśyas, śūdras and brāhmaṇas can similarly be studied in the various ages.

  3. 3

    Just as kings may be exalted or insignificant, virtuous or wicked, varieties of character appear in the intellectual, commercial and laboring orders.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as the dynasty of kings includes exalted and insignificant, virtuous and wicked monarchs, varieties of human character are found in the intellectual, commercial and laboring orders of society.

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:

In the order of Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali, the cycle of four ages rotates in the society of living entities in this universe. The chapter ends with a brief description of the future dynasties of the sun and moon coming from Vaivasvata Manu in the next Satya-yuga.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus (in the cantos of this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam)
  2. eṣaḥthis
  3. mānavaḥdescending from Vaivasvata Manu
  4. vaṁśaḥthe dynasty
  5. yathāas
  6. saṅkhyāyateit is enumerated
  7. bhuviupon the earth
  8. tathāin the same way
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.2

    In this verse: “kings”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I judge someone’s character merely by their social position?

Practice

Notice one judgment you make about someone’s occupation today, and distinguish their position from their character.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCharacter Varies in Every Social OrderThis 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 12.2.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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