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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

12.8.31 12.8.33-34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.8.32

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.8.6inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तस्यैवं युञ्जतश्चित्तं तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ।

अनुग्रहायाविरासीन्नरनारायणो हरि: ॥ ३२ ॥

tasyaivaṁ yuñjataś cittaṁ

tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ

anugrahāyāvirāsīn

nara-nārāyaṇo hariḥ

Translation

Desiring to bestow His mercy upon the saintly Mārkaṇḍeya, who had perfectly fixed his mind in self-realization through penance, Vedic study and observance of regulative principles, the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally appeared before the sage in the forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Personally Bestows His Mercy

1
Mārkaṇḍeya had perfectly fixed his mind in self-realization through penance, Vedic study and observance of regulative principles.
2
The Supreme Personality of Godhead desired to bestow His mercy upon the saintly sage.
3
The Lord personally appeared before Mārkaṇḍeya in the forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.

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

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then, to show mercy to Mārkaṇḍeya, Lord Śrī Hari appeared before him in the form of Nara-Nārāyaṇa. Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya prostrated himself in obeisance and then worshiped the Lords by offering Them comfortable seats, water for washing Their feet, and other respectful presentations.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 12.8

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasyawhile he, Mārkaṇḍeya
evamin this way
yuñjataḥwas fixing
cittamhis mind
tapaḥby austerity
svādhyāyastudy of the Vedas
saṁyamaiḥand regulative principles
anugrahāyafor showing mercy

Key ideas in this verse

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

Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord
How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.8
In this verse: “principles”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.8
In this verse: “mercy”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your daily spiritual study become more steady and attentive?

Practice

Set aside five undistracted minutes today for spiritual study.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Personally Bestows His MercyThis 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.

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