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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 3: The Bhūmi-gītā
12.3.1712.3.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.3.18

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.3.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

कृते प्रवर्तते धर्मश्चतुष्पात्तज्जनैर्धृत: ।

सत्यं दया तपो दानमिति पादा विभोर्नृप ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

kṛte pravartate dharmaś

catuṣ-pāt taj-janair dhṛtaḥ

satyaṁ dayā tapo dānam

iti pādā vibhor nṛpa

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, in the beginning, during Satya-yuga, the age of truth, religion is present with all four of its legs intact and is carefully maintained by the people of that age. These four legs of powerful religion are truthfulness, mercy, austerity and charity.

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.

Religion Rests on Four Universal Qualities

  1. 1

    In Satya-yuga, people carefully maintain all four legs of religion: truthfulness, mercy, austerity and charity. These are universal, nonsectarian qualities of pious life.

  2. 2

    Real charity helps people revive their eternal, spiritual consciousness. Realizing eternal existence brings fearlessness, and freedom from material desire brings real freedom.

  3. 3

    Religious principles are called mighty because they are not different from the Supreme Lord and ultimately lead to His kingdom. Cleanliness is an alternative meaning of dānam here.

Key points from the purport
  • The first of these is Satya-yuga, when such good qualities as charity are prominent.
  • Therefore real charity is to help people revive their eternal, spiritual consciousness.
  • The qualities mentioned here — truthfulness, mercy, austerity and charity — are universal, nonsectarian aspects of pious life.

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 3: The Bhūmi-gītā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In the age of Satya, religion was complete, still possessing its four legs of truth, mercy, austerity and charity. With the coming of each succeeding age, starting with Tretā, these religious qualities each diminish by one quarter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. kṛtein the Satya-yuga, the age of truth
  3. pravartateexists
  4. dharmaḥreligion
  5. catuḥ-pātwith four legs
  6. tatof that age
  7. janaiḥby the people
  8. dhṛtaḥmaintained
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “mercy”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does my idea of charity include helping others awaken their spiritual consciousness?

Practice

Share one sentence from this purport about eternal, spiritual consciousness with someone willing to hear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligion Rests on Four Universal QualitiesThis 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 12.3.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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