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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 4: The Four Categories of Universal Annihilation
12.4.3812.4.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.4.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.4.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एता: कुरुश्रेष्ठ जगद्विधातु-

र्नारायणस्याखिलसत्त्वधाम्न: ।

लीलाकथास्ते कथिता: समासत:

कार्त्स्‍न्येन नाजोऽप्यभिधातुमीश: ॥ ३९ ॥

etāḥ kuru-śreṣṭha jagad-vidhātur

nārāyaṇasyākhila-sattva-dhāmnaḥ

līlā-kathās te kathitāḥ samāsataḥ

kārtsnyena nājo ’py abhidhātum īśaḥ

Translation

O best of the Kurus, I have related to you these narrations of the pastimes of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the creator of this world and the ultimate reservoir of all existence, presenting them to you only in brief summary. Even Lord Brahmā himself would be incapable of describing them entirely.

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.

The Lord’s Pastimes Exceed Complete Description

  1. 1

    Lord Nārāyaṇa is the creator of this world and the ultimate reservoir of all existence.

  2. 2

    These narrations of His pastimes have been presented only in brief summary.

  3. 3

    Even Lord Brahmā cannot describe the Lord’s pastimes entirely.

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 4: The Four Categories of Universal Annihilation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Material life means subjugation to birth and death, or generation and annihilation. The only boat suitable for crossing the ocean of material existence, which is otherwise impossible to cross, is the boat of submissive hearing of the nectarean pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāḥthese
  2. kuru-śreṣṭhaO best of the Kurus
  3. jagat-vidhātuḥof the creator of the universe
  4. nārāyaṇasyaof Lord Nārāyaṇa
  5. akhila-sattva-dhāmnaḥthe reservoir of all existences
  6. līlā-kathāḥthe pastime narrations
  7. teto you
  8. kathitāḥhave been related
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.4

    In this verse: “narrations”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you approach these narrations with humility, knowing that even Lord Brahmā cannot describe them fully?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, pausing to reflect on Lord Nārāyaṇa as the reservoir of all existence.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Pastimes Exceed Complete DescriptionThis 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 12.4.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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