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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.
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Canto 12 · Chapter 3: The Bhūmi-gītā
12.3.2812.3.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.3.29

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

यदा लोभस्त्वसन्तोषो मानो दम्भोऽथ मत्सर: ।

कर्मणां चापि काम्यानां द्वापरं तद् रजस्तम: ॥ २९ ॥

yadā lobhas tv asantoṣo

māno dambho ’tha matsaraḥ

karmaṇāṁ cāpi kāmyānāṁ

dvāparaṁ tad rajas-tamaḥ

Translation

When greed, dissatisfaction, false pride, hypocrisy and envy become prominent, along with attraction for selfish activities, such a time is the age of Dvāpara, dominated by the mixed modes of passion and ignorance.

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.

Selfishness Reveals Passion Mixed With Ignorance

  1. 1

    Dvāpara is marked by the prominence of greed and dissatisfaction.

  2. 2

    False pride, hypocrisy and envy also become prominent, along with attraction for selfish activities.

  3. 3

    These qualities characterize an age dominated by a mixture of passion and ignorance.

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. yadāwhen
  2. lobhaḥgreed
  3. tuindeed
  4. asantoṣaḥdissatisfaction
  5. mānaḥfalse pride
  6. dambhaḥhypocrisy
  7. athaand
  8. matsaraḥenvy
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “pride”

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

Which of these tendencies most often disturbs your dealings with others?

Practice

Notice one selfish impulse today and refrain from acting on it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySelfishness Reveals Passion Mixed With IgnoranceThis 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 12.3.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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