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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
12.3.3212.3.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.3.33

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

अव्रता बटवोऽशौचा भिक्षवश्च कुटुम्बिन: ।

तपस्विनो ग्रामवासा न्यासिनोऽत्यर्थलोलुपा: ॥ ३३ ॥

avratā baṭavo ’śaucā

bhikṣavaś ca kuṭumbinaḥ

tapasvino grāma-vāsā

nyāsino ’tyartha-lolupāḥ

Translation

The brahmacārīs will fail to execute their vows and become generally unclean, the householders will become beggars, the vānaprasthas will live in the villages, and the sannyāsīs will become greedy for wealth.

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.

Spiritual Life Requires Genuine Conduct

  1. 1

    The verse predicts students neglecting vows and cleanliness, householders becoming beggars, retired people remaining in villages, and renunciants becoming greedy for wealth.

  2. 2

    The purport stresses charitable household life and retirement devoted to austerity and spiritual perfection, rather than continued sense gratification.

  3. 3

    Genuine spiritual leadership requires faithfully observing vows, not using religion to gain wealth. The purport supports authentic stages of spiritual life centered on serving the Lord and spreading His glories.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmacarya, celibate student life, is practically nonexistent in the Age of Kali.
  • Therefore the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is working arduously to establish bona fide celibate student life, religious householder life, dignified and progressive retirement, and genuine spiritual leadership for the entire world.
  • Today, May 9, 1982, in the sensual city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we have awarded sannyāsa, the renounced order of life, to three young men, two Brazilians and one American, with the sincere hope that they will faithfully execute the rigid vows of renounced life and provide authentic spiritual leadership in South America.

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 mode of goodness is predominant during Satya-yuga, and the mode of passion is predominant during the Tretā-yuga. The mixed modes of passion and ignorance are predominant during Dvāpara-yuga, and in the Age of Kali the mode of ignorance is predominant.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avratāḥfailing to execute their vows
  2. baṭavaḥthe brahmacārīs
  3. aśaucāḥunclean
  4. bhikṣavaḥprone to begging
  5. caand
  6. kuṭumbinaḥthe householders
  7. tapasvinaḥthose who have gone to the forest for austerities
  8. grāma-vāsāḥvillage residents
  9. nyāsinaḥthe sannyāsīs
  10. atyartha-lolupāḥexcessively greedy for wealth
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “householders”, “wealth”, “sense gratification”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”

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

What would make your present responsibilities more supportive of devotional service?

Practice

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5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Life Requires Genuine ConductThis 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 12.3.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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