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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 7: The Purāṇic Literatures
12.7.1312.7.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.7.14

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.7.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

रक्षाच्युतावतारेहा विश्वस्यानु युगे युगे ।

तिर्यङ्‌मर्त्यर्षिदेवेषु हन्यन्ते यैस्त्रयीद्विष: ॥ १४ ॥

rakṣācyutāvatārehā

viśvasyānu yuge yuge

tiryaṅ-martyarṣi-deveṣu

hanyante yais trayī-dviṣaḥ

Translation

In each age, the infallible Lord appears in this world among the animals, human beings, sages and demigods. By His activities in these incarnations He protects the universe and kills the enemies of Vedic culture.

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.

The Lord Appears to Protect

  1. 1

    In each age, the infallible Lord appears among animals, human beings, sages and demigods.

  2. 2

    Through His activities in these incarnations, He protects the universe and kills the enemies of Vedic culture.

  3. 3

    These protective activities, called rakṣā, are one of the ten fundamental topics of a Mahā-purāṇa, or great Purāṇic literature.

Key points from the purport
  • The protective activities of the Lord, indicated by the word rakṣā, constitute one of the ten fundamental topics of a Mahā-purāṇa, or a great Purāṇic literature.

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

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. rakṣāprotection
  2. acyuta-avatāraof the incarnations of Lord Acyuta
  3. īhāthe activities
  4. viśvasyaof this universe
  5. anu yuge yugein each age
  6. tiryakamong the animals
  7. martyahuman beings
  8. ṛṣisages
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “protects”

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 knowing the Lord’s protective purpose affect my understanding of His appearances?

Practice

Reread the translation once, focusing on the Lord’s purpose of protecting the universe.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears to ProtectThis 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 12.7.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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