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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.3.39-40

Who is speaking and story frame

नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो दुर्भिक्षकरकर्शिता: ।

निरन्ने भूतले राजननावृष्टिभयातुरा: ॥ ३९ ॥

वासोऽन्नपानशयनव्यवायस्न‍ानभूषणै: ।

हीना: पिशाचसन्दर्शा भविष्यन्ति कलौ प्रजा: ॥ ४० ॥

nityam udvigna-manaso

durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ

niranne bhū-tale rājan

anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ

vāso-’nna-pāna-śayana-

vyavāya-snāna-bhūṣaṇaiḥ

hīnāḥ piśāca-sandarśā

bhaviṣyanti kalau prajāḥ

Translation

In the Age of Kali, people’s minds will always be agitated. They will become emaciated by famine and taxation, my dear King, and will always be disturbed by fear of drought. They will lack adequate clothing, food and drink, will be unable to properly rest, have sex or bathe themselves, and will have no ornaments to decorate their bodies. In fact, the people of Kali-yuga will gradually come to appear like ghostly, haunted creatures.

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.

Material Hardship and Constant Anxiety

  1. 1

    In Kali-yuga, people's minds will remain agitated. Famine and taxation will weaken them, while fear of drought will keep them anxious.

  2. 2

    People will lack adequate clothing, food, drink and ordinary bodily comforts. Their deprivation will gradually give them a ghostly, haunted appearance.

  3. 3

    The purport says these symptoms are already prevalent in many countries. They will spread to other places engulfed by impiety and materialism.

Key points from the purport
  • The symptoms described here are already prevalent in many countries of the world and will gradually spread to other places engulfed by impiety and materialism.

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. nityamconstantly
  2. udvignaagitated
  3. manasaḥtheir minds
  4. durbhikṣaby famine
  5. karaand taxes
  6. karśitāḥemaciated
  7. nirannewhen there is no food to be found
  8. bhū-taleupon the surface of the earth
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialism”

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 this description affect my awareness of people who lack basic necessities?

Practice

Provide a little food, drinking water or clothing to someone who needs it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Hardship and Constant AnxietyThis 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 12.3.39-40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.