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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 · Text 12.6.67

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीयाज्ञवल्‍क्य उवाच

ॐ नमो भगवते आदित्यायाखिलजगतामात्मस्वरूपेण कालस्वरूपेण चतुर्विधभूतनिकायानां ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तानामन्तर्हृदयेषु बहिरपि चाकाश इवोपाधिनाव्यवधीयमानो भवानेक एव क्षणलवनिमेषावयवोपचितसंवत्सरगणेनापामादान विसर्गाभ्यामिमां लोकयात्रामनुवहति ॥ ६७ ॥

śrī-yājñavalkya uvāca

oṁ namo bhagavate ādityāyākhila-jagatām ātma-svarūpeṇa kāla-svarūpeṇa catur-vidha-bhūta-nikāyānāṁ brahmādi-stamba-paryantānām antar-hṛdayeṣu bahir api cākāśa ivopādhināvyavadhīyamāno bhavān eka eva kṣaṇa-lava-nimeṣāvayavopacita-saṁvatsara-gaṇenāpām ādāna- visargābhyām imāṁ loka-yātrām anuvahati.

Translation

Śrī Yājñavalkya said: I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as the sun. You are present as the controller of the four kinds of living entities, beginning from Brahmā and extending down to the blades of grass. Just as the sky is present both inside and outside every living being, you exist both within the hearts of all as the Supersoul and externally in the form of time. Just as the sky cannot be covered by the clouds present within it, you are never covered by any false material designation. By the flow of years, which are made up of the tiny fragments of time called kṣaṇas, lavas and nimeṣas, you alone maintain this world, drying up the waters and giving them back as rain.

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.

Worship Reaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead

  1. 1

    Yājñavalkya’s prayer is offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, represented by His powerful expansion, the solar deity. The sun-god is not treated as an independent or autonomous entity.

  2. 2

    The Lord is present within all hearts as the Supersoul and externally as time. Like the sky, He is never covered by false material designations.

  3. 3

    He controls living beings from Brahmā down to blades of grass. Through the flow of time, He maintains the world, drying up waters and returning them as rain.

Key points from the purport
  • This prayer is not offered to the sun-god as an independent or autonomous entity but rather to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, represented by His powerful expansion the solar deity.

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:

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. śrī-yājñavalkyaḥ uvācaŚrī Yājñavalkya said
  2. oṁ namaḥI offer my respectful obeisances
  3. bhagavateto the Personality of Godhead
  4. ādityāyaappearing as the sun-god
  5. akhila-jagatāmof all the planetary systems
  6. ātma-svarūpeṇain the form of the Supersoul
  7. kāla-svarūpeṇain the form of time
  8. catuḥ-vidhaof four kinds
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 recognizing the Supreme Lord behind the solar deity deepen my understanding of this prayer?

Practice

Offer a brief, respectful prayer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, remembering His presence within all hearts.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship Reaches the Supreme Personality of GodheadThis 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 12.6.67? Get an answer from the verses themselves.