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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
12.6.1912.6.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.20

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The intelligent King Janamejaya, hearing these wordssince 12.6.20inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

पारीक्षित इति श्रुत्वा प्राहर्त्विज उदारधी: ।

सहेन्द्रस्तक्षको विप्रा नाग्नौ किमिति पात्यते ॥ २० ॥

pārīkṣita iti śrutvā

prāhartvija udāra-dhīḥ

sahendras takṣako viprā

nāgnau kim iti pātyate

Translation

The intelligent King Janamejaya, hearing these words, replied to the priests: Then, my dear brāhmaṇas, why not make Takṣaka fall into the fire, along with his protector, Indra?

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 King Includes Takṣaka’s Protector

  1. 1

    The intelligent King Janamejaya heard the priests’ explanation.

  2. 2

    He then asked why they should not make Takṣaka fall into the fire together with Indra.

  3. 3

    The King’s proposed action now included Takṣaka’s protector as well as Takṣaka himself.

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:

Even though Takṣaka received protection from Indra, he nevertheless became attracted by the mantras and was about to fall into the fire. Seeing this, Bṛhaspati, the son of Aṅgirā Ṛṣi, came and advised Mahārāja Janamejaya that Takṣaka could not be killed because he had drunk the nectar of the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pārīkṣitaḥKing Janamejaya
  2. itithese words
  3. śrutvāhearing
  4. prāhareplied
  5. ṛtvijaḥto the priests
  6. udārabroad
  7. dhīḥwhose intelligence
  8. sahaalong with
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “protector”

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 can a conflict widen when someone turns against another person’s protector?

Practice

Before responding to a disagreement today, check whether your response would unnecessarily draw someone else into it.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe King Includes Takṣaka’s ProtectorThis 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 12.6.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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