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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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Canto 12 · Chapter 2: The Symptoms of Kali-yuga
12.2.3612.2.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.2.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवापि: शान्तनोर्भ्राता मरुश्चेक्ष्वाकुवंशज: ।

कलापग्राम आसाते महायोगबलान्वितौ ॥ ३७ ॥

devāpiḥ śāntanor bhrātā

maruś cekṣvāku-vaṁśa-jaḥ

kalāpa-grāma āsāte

mahā-yoga-balānvitau

Translation

Devāpi, the brother of Mahārāja Śāntanu, and Maru, the descendant of Ikṣvāku, both possess great mystic strength and are living even now in the village of Kalāpa.

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.

Two Kings Remain in Kalāpa

  1. 1

    Devāpi is the brother of Mahārāja Śāntanu.

  2. 2

    Maru is a descendant of Ikṣvāku.

  3. 3

    Both possess great mystic strength and are living even now in the village of Kalāpa.

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:

One of these kings is Devāpi, a brother of Mahārāja Śantanu, and the other is Maru, a descendant of Ikṣvāku. They are biding their time incognito in a village named Kalāpa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devāpiḥDevāpi
  2. śāntanoḥof Mahārāja Śāntanu
  3. bhrātāthe brother
  4. maruḥMaru
  5. caand
  6. ikṣvāku-vaṁśa-jaḥborn in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku
  7. kalāpa-grāmein the village Kalāpa
  8. āsātethe two of them are living
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this verse actually tell me about these two kings, without adding speculation?

Practice

Write down the two kings’ names and their shared dwelling place to help remember the verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTwo Kings Remain in KalāpaThis 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 12.2.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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