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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
12.7.23-2412.8.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.7.25

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

ब्रह्मन्निदं समाख्यातं शाखाप्रणयनं मुने: ।

शिष्यशिष्यप्रशिष्याणां ब्रह्मतेजोविवर्धनम् ॥ २५ ॥

brahmann idaṁ samākhyātaṁ

śākhā-praṇayanaṁ muneḥ

śiṣya-śiṣya-praśiṣyāṇāṁ

brahma-tejo-vivardhanam

Translation

I have thoroughly described to you, O brāhmaṇa, the expansion of the branches of the Vedas by the great sage Vyāsadeva, his disciples and the disciples of his disciples. One who listens to this narration will increase in spiritual strength.

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.

Hearing This Narration Increases Spiritual Strength

  1. 1

    The expansion of the branches of the Vedas has been thoroughly described.

  2. 2

    The great sage Vyāsadeva, his disciples and the disciples of his disciples carried out this expansion.

  3. 3

    One who listens to this narration will increase in spiritual strength.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Twelfth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Purāṇic Literatures.”

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. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  2. idamthis
  3. samākhyātamthoroughly described
  4. śākhā-praṇayanamthe expansion of the branches
  5. muneḥof the sage (Śrīla Vyāsadeva)
  6. śiṣyaof the disciples
  7. śiṣya-praśiṣyāṇāmand the subsequent disciples of his disciples
  8. brahma-tejaḥspiritual potency
  9. vivardhanamwhich increases
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “narration”

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 can I make time to listen attentively to this narration?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today listening to a reading of this chapter’s account of the expansion of the Vedas.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing This Narration Increases Spiritual StrengthThis 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 12.7.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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