1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

12345678910111213

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
12.6.2812.6.30-31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.29

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.6.28inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सैषा विष्णोर्महामायाबाध्ययालक्षणा यया ।

मुह्यन्त्यस्यैवात्मभूता भूतेषु गुणवृत्तिभि: ॥ २९ ॥

saiṣā viṣṇor mahā-māyā-

bādhyayālakṣaṇā yayā

muhyanty asyaivātma-bhūtā

bhūteṣu guṇa-vṛttibhiḥ

Translation

This is indeed the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu’s illusory energy, which is unstoppable and difficult to perceive. Although the individual spirit souls are part and parcel of the Lord, through the influence of this illusory energy they are bewildered by their identification with various material bodies.

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.

Devotion Brings Protection from Bewilderment

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu’s illusory energy is unstoppable and difficult to perceive. It bewilders spirit souls, who are His parts and parcels, into identifying with material bodies.

  2. 2

    Even the illustrious son of King Parīkṣit was temporarily misdirected. Because he was a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, his bewilderment was quickly rectified.

  3. 3

    Materialistic persons uninterested in Lord Viṣṇu’s protection fall into deep material ignorance. The purport warns that their complete ruination is inevitable.

Key points from the purport
  • The illusory energy of Lord Viṣṇu is so powerful that even the illustrious son of King Parīkṣit was temporarily misdirected.
  • On the other hand, an ordinary, materialistic person without the special protection of the Lord plummets to the depths of material ignorance.
  • Factually, materialistic persons are not interested in the protection of Lord Viṣṇu.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sā eṣāthis very
  2. viṣṇoḥof the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu
  3. mahā-māyāthe illusory material energy
  4. abādhyayāby her who cannot be checked
  5. alakṣaṇāindiscernible
  6. yayāby whom
  7. muhyantibecome bewildered
  8. asyaof the Lord
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • 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 interested in the Lord’s protection, or am I relying on my material identity?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa for protection from bodily identification and bewilderment.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Brings Protection from BewildermentThis 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 12.6.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories