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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
12.6.2312.6.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.24

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

नैष त्वया मनुष्येन्द्र वधमर्हति सर्पराट् ।

अनेन पीतममृतमथ वा अजरामर: ॥ २४ ॥

naiṣa tvayā manuṣyendra

vadham arhati sarpa-rāṭ

anena pītam amṛtam

atha vā ajarāmaraḥ

Translation

O King among men, it is not fitting that this king of snakes meet death at your hands, for he has drunk the nectar of the immortal demigods. Consequently he is not subject to the ordinary symptoms of old age and death.

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.

Recognizing When Killing Is Not Fitting

  1. 1

    The King is told that it is not fitting for the king of snakes to meet death at his hands.

  2. 2

    The king of snakes has drunk the nectar of the immortal demigods.

  3. 3

    Consequently, he is not subject to the ordinary symptoms of old age and death.

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:

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. Furthermore, Bṛhaspati said that all living entities must enjoy the fruits of their past activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. eṣaḥthis snake-bird
  3. tvayāby you
  4. manuṣya-indraO great ruler of men
  5. vadhammurder
  6. arhatideserves
  7. sarpa-rāṭthe king of snakes
  8. anenaby him
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “king”

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

Am I willing to reconsider an action when given a reason that it is not fitting?

Practice

Before acting on one strong impulse today, pause and consider whether the action is fitting.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing When Killing Is Not FittingThis 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 12.6.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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