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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
12.2.512.2.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.2.6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दूरे वार्ययनं तीर्थं लावण्यं केशधारणम् ।

उदरंभरता स्वार्थ: सत्यत्वे धार्ष्ट्यमेव हि ।

दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् ॥ ६ ॥

dūre vāry-ayanaṁ tīrthaṁ

lāvaṇyaṁ keśa-dhāraṇam

udaraṁ-bharatā svārthaḥ

satyatve dhārṣṭyam eva hi

dākṣyaṁ kuṭumba-bharaṇaṁ

yaśo ’rthe dharma-sevanam

Translation

A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation.

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.

Seek Spiritual Substance, Not Reputation

  1. 1

    A holy place should be visited for spiritual enlightenment, not merely ritual bathing. Taking instruction from learned devotees of the Lord is essential.

  2. 2

    Actual beauty comes from the heart and soul, not from arranging the hair. As difficulties increase, merely filling the belly or maintaining a family will be treated as great success.

  3. 3

    Audacity will be mistaken for truthfulness, and religion will be practiced for reputation. Such practice lacks essential understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • In India there are many sacred places through which holy rivers flow.
  • As the difficulties of this age increase, filling one’s belly will be the mark of success, and one who can maintain his own family will be considered brilliant in economic affairs.
  • Religion will be practiced, if at all, only for the sake of reputation and without any essential understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Atheistic systems of so-called religion become predominant, replacing the codes of Vedic law. The kings become just like highway bandits, the people in general become dedicated to low occupations, and all the social classes become just like śūdras.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dūresituated far away
  2. vāriof water
  3. ayanama reservoir
  4. tīrthamholy place
  5. lāvaṇyambeauty
  6. keśahair
  7. dhāraṇamcarrying
  8. udaram-bharatāfilling the belly
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.2

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • 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

Do I seek spiritual understanding through religious practice, or mainly approval from others?

Practice

Read a short passage of instruction from a learned devotee today, focusing on understanding rather than outward religious display.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todaySeek Spiritual Substance, Not ReputationThis 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 12.2.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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