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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 · Text 12.7.11

Who is speaking and story frame

अव्याकृतगुणक्षोभान्महतत्रिस्त्रवृतोऽहम: ।

भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियार्थानां सम्भव: सर्ग उच्यते ॥ ११ ॥

avyākṛta-guṇa-kṣobhān

mahatas tri-vṛto ’hamaḥ

bhūta-sūkṣmendriyārthānāṁ

sambhavaḥ sarga ucyate

Translation

From the agitation of the original modes within the unmanifest material nature, the mahat-tattva arises. From the mahat-tattva comes the element false ego, which divides into three aspects. This threefold false ego further manifests as the subtle forms of perception, as the senses and as the gross sense objects. The generation of all these is called creation.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Creation Unfolds from Unmanifest Material Nature

  1. 1

    When the original modes within unmanifest material nature are agitated, the mahat-tattva arises.

  2. 2

    From the mahat-tattva comes false ego, which divides into three aspects.

  3. 3

    This threefold false ego manifests as subtle forms of perception, senses and gross sense objects. The generation of all these is called creation.

How it feels

Inquiry → Reverence. The transmission of sacred knowledge continues beyond the king's life.

Chapters 7–8 of Canto 12: The Vedic corpus and Mārkaṇḍeya's devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: The Purāṇic Literatures

Summary of this chapter:

In this chapter Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī describes the expansion of the branches of the Atharva Veda, enumerates the compilers of the Purāṇas and explains the characteristics of a Purāṇa. He then lists the eighteen major Purāṇas and finishes his account by stating that any person who hears about these matters from someone in a proper disciplic succession will acquire spiritual potency.
Back to this verse in chapter 12.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avyākṛtaof the unmanifest stage of nature
  2. guṇa-kṣobhātby the agitation of the modes
  3. mahataḥfrom the basic mahat-tattva
  4. tri-vṛtaḥthreefold
  5. ahamaḥfrom the false ego
  6. bhūta-sūkṣmaof the subtle forms of perception
  7. indriyaof the senses
  8. arthānāmand the objects of sense perception
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “false ego”

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 this description broaden your understanding of what creation includes?

Practice

Draw a simple sequence from unmanifest material nature to mahat-tattva, false ego, and the forms of perception, senses and sense objects.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCreation Unfolds from Unmanifest Material NatureThis 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 12.7.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.