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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
12.6.3612.6.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.37

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.6.37inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

समाहितात्मनो ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मण: परमेष्ठिन: ।

हृद्याकाशादभून्नादो वृत्तिरोधाद् विभाव्यते ॥ ३७ ॥

sūta uvāca

samāhitātmano brahman

brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

hṛdy ākāśād abhūn nādo

vṛtti-rodhād vibhāvyate

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: O brāhmaṇa, first the subtle vibration of transcendental sound appeared from the sky of the heart of the most elevated Lord Brahmā, whose mind was perfectly fixed in spiritual realization. One can perceive this subtle vibration when one stops all external hearing.

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.

Tracing the Source of Transcendental Sound

  1. 1

    Because Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the supreme Vedic literature, the sages headed by Śaunaka desired to trace its source.

  2. 2

    Subtle transcendental sound first appeared from the sky of Lord Brahmā's heart. His mind was perfectly fixed in spiritual realization.

  3. 3

    The translation states that this subtle vibration can be perceived when one stops all external hearing.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the supreme Vedic literature, the sages headed by Śaunaka desired to trace out its source.

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:

From the heart of the topmost demigod, Brahmā, came the subtle transcendental vibration, and from this subtle sound vibration arose the syllable om, greatly potent and self-luminous. Using this oṁkāra, Lord Brahmā created the original Vedas and taught them to his sons, Marīci and others, who were all saintly leaders of the brāhmaṇa community.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. samāhita-ātmanaḥwhose mind was perfectly fixed
  3. brahmanO brāhmaṇa (Śaunaka)
  4. brahmaṇaḥof Lord Brahmā
  5. parame-sthinaḥthe most elevated of living beings
  6. hṛdiwithin the heart
  7. ākāśātfrom out of the sky
  8. abhūtarose
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 does learning about its source deepen my respect for Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Practice

Set aside external audio distractions for a minute and reread the description of Lord Brahmā's spiritually focused mind.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTracing the Source of Transcendental SoundThis 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 12.6.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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