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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 12.4.20-21

न यत्र वाचो न मनो न सत्त्वं

तमो रजो वा महदादयोऽमी ।

न प्राणबुद्धीन्द्रियदेवता वा

न सन्निवेश: खलु लोककल्प: ॥ २० ॥

न स्वप्नजाग्रन्न च तत् सुषुप्तं

न खं जलं भूरनिलोऽग्निरर्क: ।

संसुप्तवच्छून्यवदप्रतर्क्यं

तन्मूलभूतं पदमामनन्ति ॥ २१ ॥

na yatra vāco na mano na sattvaṁ

tamo rajo vā mahad-ādayo ’mī

na prāṇa-buddhīndriya-devatā vā

na sanniveśaḥ khalu loka-kalpaḥ

na svapna-jāgran na ca tat suṣuptaṁ

na khaṁ jalaṁ bhūr anilo ’gnir arkaḥ

saṁsupta-vac chūnya-vad apratarkyaṁ

tan mūla-bhūtaṁ padam āmananti

Translation

In the unmanifest stage of material nature, called pradhāna, there is no expression of words, no mind and no manifestation of the subtle elements beginning from the mahat, nor are there the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. There is no life air or intelligence, nor any senses or demigods. There is no definite arrangement of planetary systems, nor are there present the different stages of consciousness — sleep, wakefulness and deep sleep. There is no ether, water, earth, air, fire or sun. The situation is just like that of complete sleep, or of voidness. Indeed, it is indescribable. Authorities in spiritual science explain, however, that since pradhāna is the original substance, it is the actual basis of material creation.

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.

Pradhāna Is the Unmanifest Material Basis

  1. 1

    In pradhāna, words, mind, subtle elements and the three modes are not manifest. Life air, intelligence, senses and demigods are also absent.

  2. 2

    There are no arranged planetary systems, states of consciousness, material elements or sun. This indescribable condition is compared to complete sleep or voidness.

  3. 3

    Yet pradhāna is not simply nothing. Authorities in spiritual science explain that it is the original substance and actual basis of material creation.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.