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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
12.6.2412.6.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.25

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

जीवितं मरणं जन्तोर्गति: स्वेनैव कर्मणा ।

राजंस्ततोऽन्यो नास्त्यस्य प्रदाता सुखदु:खयो: ॥ २५ ॥

jīvitaṁ maraṇaṁ jantor

gatiḥ svenaiva karmaṇā

rājaṁs tato ’nyo nāsty asya

pradātā sukha-duḥkhayoḥ

Translation

The life and death of an embodied soul and his destination in the next life are all caused by himself through his own activity. Therefore, O King, no other agent is actually responsible for creating one’s happiness and distress.

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.

Seeing Beyond the Apparent Cause

  1. 1

    An embodied soul’s life, death and next destination arise through his own activity. No other agent is actually responsible for creating his happiness and distress.

  2. 2

    Although King Parīkṣit apparently died from Takṣaka’s bite, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself brought him back to the kingdom of God.

  3. 3

    Bṛhaspati wanted young King Janamejaya to see things from the spiritual point of view.

Key points from the purport
  • Although King Parīkṣit apparently died by the bite of Takṣaka, it was Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself who brought the King back to the kingdom of God.
  • Bṛhaspati wanted young King Janamejaya to see things from the spiritual point of view.

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:

Subsequently Mahārāja Parīkṣit, free of all doubts, sat down in yogic posture and merged himself in meditation upon the Supersoul. Then the snake-bird Takṣaka, arriving in the disguise of a brāhmaṇa, bit him, and the body of the saintly king immediately burned to ashes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jīvitamthe living
  2. maraṇamthe dying
  3. jantoḥof a living being
  4. gatiḥthe destination in his next life
  5. svenaby his own
  6. evaonly
  7. karmaṇāwork
  8. rājanO King
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “distress”

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 might a spiritual point of view change my tendency to blame others?

Practice

Read the purport again and reflect for a minute on the difference between Takṣaka’s apparent role and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s action.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeing Beyond the Apparent CauseThis 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 12.6.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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