1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

12345678910111213

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
12.7.2212.7.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.7.23-24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.7.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं लैङ्गं सगारुडं ।

नारदीयं भागवतमाग्नेयं स्कान्दसंज्ञितम् ॥ २३ ॥

भविष्यं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं सवामनम् ।

वाराहं मात्स्यं कौर्मं च ब्रह्माण्डाख्यमिति त्रिषट् ॥ २४ ॥

brāhmaṁ pādmaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ ca

śaivaṁ laiṅgaṁ sa-gāruḍaṁ

nāradīyaṁ bhāgavatam

āgneyaṁ skānda-saṁjñitam

bhaviṣyaṁ brahma-vaivartaṁ

mārkaṇḍeyaṁ sa-vāmanam

vārāhaṁ mātsyaṁ kaurmaṁ ca

brahmāṇḍākhyam iti tri-ṣaṭ

Translation

The eighteen major Purāṇas are the Brahma, Padma, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Liṅga, Garuḍa, Nārada, Bhāgavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhaviṣya, Brahma-vaivarta, Mārkaṇḍeya, Vāmana, Varāha, Matsya, Kūrma and Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇas.

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.

Recognizing the Eighteen Major Purāṇas

  1. 1

    The translation names all eighteen major Purāṇas, beginning with Brahma and ending with Brahmāṇḍa.

  2. 2

    The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is included among these eighteen major Purāṇas.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has quoted from the Varāha Purāṇa, Śiva Purāṇa and Matsya Purāṇa to confirm this list and the preceding classification.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has quoted from the Varāha Purāṇa, Śiva Purāṇa and Matsya Purāṇa in confirmation of the above two verses.

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. brāhmamthe Brahma Purāṇa
  2. pādmamthe Padma Purāṇa
  3. vaiṣṇavamthe Viṣṇu Purāṇa
  4. caand
  5. śaivamthe Śiva Purāṇa
  6. laiṅgamthe Liṅga Purāṇa
  7. sa-gāruḍamalong with the Garuḍa Purāṇa
  8. nāradīyamthe Nārada Purāṇa
3

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

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 Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s confirmation help me appreciate the care behind this list?

Practice

Read the list aloud once, then identify the three Purāṇas quoted by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing the Eighteen Major PurāṇasThis 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 12.7.23-24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.