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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.6.30-31

Who is speaking and story frame

न यत्र दम्भीत्यभया विराजिता

मायात्मवादेऽसकृदात्मवादिभि: ।

न यद्विवादो विविधस्तदाश्रयो

मनश्च सङ्कल्पविकल्पवृत्ति यत् ॥ ३० ॥

न यत्र सृज्यं सृजतोभयो: परं

श्रेयश्च जीवस्त्रिभिरन्वितस्त्वहम् ।

तदेतदुत्सादितबाध्यबाधकं

निषिध्य चोर्मीन् विरमेत तन्मुनि: ॥ ३१ ॥

na yatra dambhīty abhayā virājitā

māyātma-vāde ’sakṛd ātma-vādibhiḥ

na yad vivādo vividhas tad-āśrayo

manaś ca saṅkalpa-vikalpa-vṛtti yat

na yatra sṛjyaṁ sṛjatobhayoḥ paraṁ

śreyaś ca jīvas tribhir anvitas tv aham

tad etad utsādita-bādhya-bādhakaṁ

niṣidhya cormīn virameta tan muniḥ

Translation

But there exists a supreme reality, in which the illusory energy cannot fearlessly dominate, thinking, “I can control this person because he is deceitful.” In that highest reality there are no illusory argumentative philosophies. Rather, there the true students of spiritual science constantly engage in authorized spiritual investigation. In that supreme reality there is no manifestation of the material mind, which functions in terms of alternating decision and doubt. Created material products, their subtle causes and the goals of enjoyment attained by their utilization do not exist there. Furthermore, in that supreme reality there is no conditioned spirit, covered by false ego and the three modes of nature. That reality excludes everything limited or limiting. One who is wise should therefore stop the waves of material life and enjoy within that Supreme Truth.

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.

Seek Truth Beyond Illusion and Argument

  1. 1

    Māyā freely influences those who are hypocritical, deceitful and disobedient to God’s laws. The Personality of Godhead is free of material qualities, and Māyā becomes fearful in His presence.

  2. 2

    Useless academic wrangling is absent from the supreme spiritual reality. True students of spiritual science constantly engage in authorized spiritual investigation.

  3. 3

    That reality is free from the material mind’s decision and doubt, false ego and the three modes of nature. The wise should stop the waves of material life and enjoy within the Supreme Truth.

Key points from the purport
  • The illusory energy of the Lord, Māyā, can freely exert her influence over those who are hypocritical, deceitful and disobedient to the laws of God.
  • In the supreme spiritual reality, useless academic wrangling is completely absent.
  • Thus He creates within this material world a situation in which they are unable to come to a conclusion.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 12.6.30-31 quotesSB 6.4.31

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.4.31): “Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, who possesses unlimited transcendental qualities.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Furthermore, Bṛhaspati said that all living entities must enjoy the fruits of their past activities. Therefore the king should give up this sacrifice.
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. yatrain which
  3. dambhīhe is a hypocrite
  4. itithinking thus
  5. abhayāfearless
  6. virājitāvisible
  7. māyāthe illusory energy
  8. ātma-vādewhen spiritual inquiry is being conducted
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fearlessly”, “fearful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “māyā”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.6

    In this verse: “philosophies”

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

Is my spiritual inquiry sincere, or am I mainly trying to win arguments?

Practice

Set aside one urge to argue today and spend five minutes carefully studying this passage instead.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.4.31

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 12.6's connections

Live this todaySeek Truth Beyond Illusion and ArgumentThis 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 12.6.30-31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.