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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

12.6.15 12.6.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.16

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.6.8inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

जन्मेजय: स्वपितरं श्रुत्वा तक्षकभक्षितम् ।

यथा जुहाव सङ्‌क्रुद्धो नागान् सत्रे सह द्विजै: ॥ १६ ॥

janmejayaḥ sva-pitaraṁ

śrutvā takṣaka-bhakṣitam

yathājuhāva saṅkruddho

nāgān satre saha dvijaiḥ

Translation

Hearing that his father had been fatally bitten by the snake-bird, Mahārāja Janamejaya became extremely angry and had brāhmaṇas perform a mighty sacrifice in which he offered all the snakes in the world into the sacrificial fire.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Anger Leads to a Mighty Snake Sacrifice

1
Mahārāja Janamejaya heard that his father had been fatally bitten by the snake-bird.
2
He became extremely angry and had brāhmaṇas perform a mighty sacrifice.
3
In that sacrifice, he offered all the snakes in the world into the sacrificial fire. His response extended beyond the snake that had bitten his father.

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

Chapter 6: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Passes Away

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Janamejaya, the son of Parīkṣit, became very angry when he received news of his father’s death, and he began a sacrificial performance for the purpose of destroying all the snakes. Even though Takṣaka received protection from Indra, he nevertheless became attracted by the mantras and was about to fall into the fire.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

janmejayaḥKing Janamejaya, the son of Parīkṣit
sva-pitaramhis own father
śrutvāhearing
takṣakaby Takṣaka, the snake-bird
bhakṣitambitten
yathāproperly
ājuhāvaoffered as oblations
saṅkruddhaḥextremely angry

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.6
In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 12.6
In this verse: “father”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When you are hurt, does your anger sometimes extend beyond the one who caused the hurt?

Practice

Before acting on one irritation today, pause and consider who else your response might affect.

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAnger Leads to a Mighty Snake SacrificeThis 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 12.6.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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