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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.
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Canto 12 · Chapter 8: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Prayers to Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi
12.8.1412.8.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.8.15

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.8.6inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

एतत् पुरन्दरो ज्ञात्वा सप्तमेऽस्मिन् किलान्तरे ।

तपोविशङ्कितो ब्रह्मन्नारेभे तद्विघातनम् ॥ १५ ॥

etat purandaro jñātvā

saptame ’smin kilāntare

tapo-viśaṅkito brahmann

ārebhe tad-vighātanam

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, during the seventh reign of Manu, the current age, Lord Indra came to know of Mārkaṇḍeya’s austerities and became fearful of his growing mystic potency. Thus he tried to impede the sage’s penance.

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.

Fear Can Lead to Obstructing Others

  1. 1

    During the seventh reign of Manu, the current age, Lord Indra learned of Mārkaṇḍeya’s austerities.

  2. 2

    Indra became fearful of the sage’s growing mystic potency.

  3. 3

    Because of this fear, he tried to impede Mārkaṇḍeya’s penance.

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 8: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Prayers to Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In the seventh manvantara, Lord Indra sent Kāmadeva (Cupid) and his associates to interrupt the sage’s austerities. But Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi defeated them by the potency generated from his penance.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatthis
  2. purandaraḥLord Indra
  3. jñātvālearning
  4. saptamein the seventh
  5. asminthis
  6. kilaindeed
  7. antarereign of Manu
  8. tapaḥof the austerities
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 12.8

    In this verse: “fearful”

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

Does another person’s spiritual progress awaken appreciation in me, or a sense of threat?

Practice

Give someone uninterrupted space for their spiritual practice today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFear Can Lead to Obstructing OthersThis 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 12.8.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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