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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
12.2.3512.2.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.2.36

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतेषां नामलिङ्गानां पुरुषाणां महात्मनाम् ।

कथामात्रावशिष्टानां कीर्तिरेव स्थिता भुवि ॥ ३६ ॥

eteṣāṁ nāma-liṅgānāṁ

puruṣāṇāṁ mahātmanām

kathā-mātrāvaśiṣṭānāṁ

kīrtir eva sthitā bhuvi

Translation

These personalities, who were great souls, are now known only by their names. They exist only in accounts from the past, and only their fame remains on the earth.

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.

Power and Position Do Not Last

  1. 1

    These great personalities now remain only in names and accounts from the past.

  2. 2

    Even someone who considers himself a great, powerful leader will ultimately become a name in a long list.

  3. 3

    It is therefore useless to be attached to power and position in the material world.

Key points from the purport
  • Although one may consider oneself to be a great, powerful leader, he will ultimately end up as a name in a long list of names.
  • In other words, it is useless to be attached to power and position in the material world.

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:

He will mount His horse Devadatta and, taking His sword in hand, will roam about the earth killing millions of bandits in the guise of kings. Then the signs of the next Satya-yuga will begin to appear.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eteṣāmof these
  2. nāmatheir names
  3. liṅgānāmwhich are the only means of remembering them
  4. puruṣāṇāmof the personalities
  5. mahā-ātmanāmwho were great souls
  6. kathāthe stories
  7. mātramerely
  8. avaśiṣṭānāmwhose remaining portion
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I treating recognition or position as something lasting?

Practice

Today, let one opportunity to seek status or recognition pass without pursuing it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPower and Position Do Not LastThis 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 12.2.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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