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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
12.7.812.7.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.7.9-10

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

सर्गोऽस्याथ विसर्गश्च वृत्तिरक्षान्तराणि च ।

वंशो वंशानुचरितं संस्था हेतुरपाश्रय: ॥ ९ ॥

दशभिर्लक्षणैर्युक्तं पुराणं तद्विदो विदु: ।

केचित् पञ्चविधं ब्रह्मन् महदल्पव्यवस्थया ॥ १० ॥

sargo ’syātha visargaś ca

vṛtti-rakṣāntarāṇi ca

vaṁśo vaṁśānucaritaṁ

saṁsthā hetur apāśrayaḥ

daśabhir lakṣaṇair yuktaṁ

purāṇaṁ tad-vido viduḥ

kecit pañca-vidhaṁ brahman

mahad-alpa-vyavasthayā

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, authorities on the matter understand a Purāṇa to contain ten characteristic topics: the creation of this universe, the subsequent creation of worlds and beings, the maintenance of all living beings, their sustenance, the rule of various Manus, the dynasties of great kings, the activities of such kings, annihilation, motivation and the supreme shelter. Other scholars state that the great Purāṇas deal with these ten topics, while lesser Purāṇas may deal with five.

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.

Ten Topics Throughout the Bhāgavatam

  1. 1

    Authorities describe ten Purāṇic topics: creation, subsequent creation, maintenance, sustenance, the rule of Manus, royal dynasties, their activities, annihilation, motivation and the supreme shelter.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that great Purāṇas such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam cover ten topics. Lesser Purāṇas cover five: creation, secondary creation, royal dynasties, the reigns of Manus and dynastic activities.

  3. 3

    The ten principal topics occur within each of the twelve cantos, with different degrees of emphasis and analysis. They should not be assigned one by one to particular cantos or forced into a successive order.

Key points from the purport
  • The ten subjects of a great Purāṇa are also described in the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.10.1):
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Purāṇas such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam deal with these ten topics, whereas lesser Purāṇas deal with only five.
  • One should not try to assign each of the ten topics to a particular canto.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 12.7.9-10 quotesSB 2.10.1

The ten subjects of a great Purāṇa are also described in the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.10.1): “Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe, subcreation, planetary systems, protection by the Lord, the creative impetus, the change of Manus, the science of God, returning home (back to…

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. sargaḥthe creation
  2. asyaof this universe
  3. athathen
  4. visargaḥthe secondary creation
  5. caand
  6. vṛttimaintenance
  7. rakṣāprotection by sustenance
  8. antarāṇithe reigns of the Manus
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 12.7

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 might recognizing these recurring topics help you read beyond a single passage’s immediate subject?

Practice

Copy the ten topics into a study note, including the supreme shelter, and leave space to record them as you read.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.10.1

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 12.7's connections

Live this todayTen Topics Throughout the BhāgavatamThis 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 12.7.9-10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.