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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 8: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Prayers to Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi
12.8.2312.8.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.8.24

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

ननृतुस्तस्य पुरत: स्त्रियोऽथो गायका जगु: ।

मृदङ्गवीणापणवैर्वाद्यं चक्रुर्मनोरमम् ॥ २४ ॥

nanṛtus tasya purataḥ

striyo ’tho gāyakā jaguḥ

mṛdaṅga-vīṇā-paṇavair

vādyaṁ cakrur mano-ramam

Translation

The women danced before the sage, and the celestial singers sang to the charming accompaniment of drums, cymbals and vīṇās.

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.

Charming Performances Before the Sage

  1. 1

    The women danced directly before the sage.

  2. 2

    Celestial singers accompanied the dancing with song.

  3. 3

    Drums, cymbals and vīṇās provided charming instrumental music as the attempt to distract him continued.

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. nanṛtuḥdanced
  2. tasyaof him
  3. purataḥin front
  4. striyaḥwomen
  5. atha uand furthermore
  6. gāyakāḥsingers
  7. jaguḥsang
  8. mṛdaṅgawith drums
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

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 do I respond when something charming competes with my spiritual commitments?

Practice

Choose a short period for spiritual practice today and silence distracting music or media during it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCharming Performances Before the SageThis 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 12.8.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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