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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 3: The Bhūmi-gītā
12.3.2512.3.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.3.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.3.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति द‍ृश्यन्ते पुरुषे गुणा: ।

कालसञ्चोदितास्ते वै परिवर्तन्त आत्मनि ॥ २६ ॥

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti

dṛśyante puruṣe guṇāḥ

kāla-sañcoditās te vai

parivartanta ātmani

Translation

The material modes — goodness, passion and ignorance — whose permutations are observed within a person’s mind, are set into motion by the power of time.

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.

Time Sets the Material Modes in Motion

  1. 1

    Goodness, passion and ignorance undergo changes within the mind, impelled by the power of time.

  2. 2

    All three modes are present in every age. The predominant mode, or combination of modes, determines its general character.

  3. 3

    Each age can occasionally appear within another as a sub-age. Thus even in Kali-yuga, the highest religious principles may flourish for some time.

Key points from the purport
  • The four ages described in these verses are manifestations of various modes of material nature.
  • In each age, therefore, the three modes are present in varying proportions.
  • The particular age represented by goodness (Satya), passion (Tretā), passion and ignorance (Dvāpara) or ignorance (Kali) exists within each of the other ages as a subfactor.

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:

The mixed modes of passion and ignorance are predominant during Dvāpara-yuga, and in the Age of Kali the mode of ignorance is predominant. Atheism, the smallness and inferiority of all things, and devotion to the genitals and belly are very much evident in the Age of Kali.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sattvamgoodness
  2. rajaḥpassion
  3. tamaḥignorance
  4. itithus
  5. dṛśyanteare seen
  6. puruṣein a person
  7. guṇāḥthe modes of material nature
  8. kāla-sañcoditāḥimpelled by time
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

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

How does knowing that religious principles can flourish even in Kali-yuga encourage you?

Practice

Pause once today and notice whether goodness, passion or ignorance seems most prominent in your mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTime Sets the Material Modes in MotionThis 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 12.3.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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