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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 6: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Passes Away
12.6.1412.6.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.6.8inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्गन्धर्वाप्सरसो जगु: ।

ववृषु: पुष्पवर्षाणि विबुधा: साधुवादिन: ॥ १५ ॥

deva-dundubhayo nedur

gandharvāpsaraso jaguḥ

vavṛṣuḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi

vibudhāḥ sādhu-vādinaḥ

Translation

Kettledrums sounded in the regions of the demigods, and the celestial Gandharvas and Apsarās sang. The demigods showered flowers and spoke words of praise.

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.

Returning to Godhead Is Cause for Celebration

  1. 1

    Kettledrums sounded in the regions of the demigods, while the Gandharvas and Apsarās sang.

  2. 2

    The demigods showered flowers and spoke words of praise.

  3. 3

    Although they lamented at first, learned persons soon understood that a great soul had gone back home, back to Godhead. This was certainly a cause for celebration.

Key points from the purport
  • Although lamenting at first, all learned persons, including the demigods, soon realized that a great soul had gone back home, back to Godhead.

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

Approaching death → Demonstrated fearlessness. Parīkṣit is already a great devotee; his final hearing exemplifies fearlessness for the audience.

Chapters 5–6 of Canto 12: Śukadeva's final instruction and Parīkṣit's passing. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Passes Away

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After hearing the words of Śrī Śukadeva, Mahārāja Parīkṣit stated that by having listened to the Bhāgavatam, which is the compendium of the Purāṇas and which is full of the nectarean pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Uttamaḥśloka, Parīkṣit had attained the transcendental position of fearlessness and oneness with the Supreme.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devaof the demigods
  2. dundubhayaḥthe kettledrums
  3. neduḥresounded
  4. gandharva-apsarasaḥthe Gandharvas and Apsarās
  5. jaguḥsang
  6. vavṛṣuḥthey showered down
  7. puṣpa-varṣāṇirains of flowers
  8. vibudhāḥthe demigods
  9. sādhu-vādinaḥspeaking praise
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “lamented”

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 did understanding the great soul’s destination change the response of the learned persons?

Practice

Write down the phrase “back home, back to Godhead” and reflect briefly on why it brought celebration.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturning to Godhead Is Cause for CelebrationThis 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 12.6.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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