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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

12.6.59 12.6.61

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.6.60

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.6.37inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

बह्‌वृचा: संहिता ह्येता एभिर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिर्धृता: ।

श्रुत्वैतच्छन्दसां व्यासं सर्वपापै: प्रमुच्यते ॥ ६० ॥

bahvṛcāḥ saṁhitā hy etā

ebhir brahmarṣibhir dhṛtāḥ

śrutvaitac-chandasāṁ vyāsaṁ

sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

Thus these various saṁhitās of the Ṛg Veda were maintained through disciplic succession by these saintly brāhmaṇas. Simply by hearing of this distribution of the Vedic hymns, one will be freed from all sins.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing About Vedic Transmission Purifies

1
The various saṁhitās of the Ṛg Veda were maintained by saintly brāhmaṇas.
2
They preserved these collections through disciplic succession.
3
Simply by hearing about this distribution of the Vedic hymns, one will be freed from all sins.

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

Chapter 6: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Passes Away

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This body of Vedic knowledge was handed down through the disciplic succession of spiritual masters until the end of Dvāpara-yuga, when Lord Vyāsadeva divided it into four parts and instructed various schools of sages in these four saṁhitās. When the sage Yājñavalkya was rejected by his spiritual master, he had to give up all the Vedic mantras he had received from him.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bahu-ṛcāḥof the Ṛg Veda
saṁhitāḥthe collections
hiindeed
etāḥthese
ebhiḥby these
brahma-ṛṣibhiḥsaintly brāhmaṇas
dhṛtāḥmaintained through disciplic succession
śrutvāhearing

Key ideas in this verse

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

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.6
In this verse: “hearing”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 12.6
In this verse: “sins”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this promise encourage me to hear these accounts attentively?

Practice

Read this translation aloud slowly, listening carefully to its promise about hearing.

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing About Vedic Transmission PurifiesThis 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 12.6.60? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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