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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

12.8.35 12.8.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.8.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

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

स तत्सन्दर्शनानन्दनिर्वृतात्मेन्द्रियाशय: ।

हृष्टरोमाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो न सेहे तावुदीक्षितुम् ॥ ३६ ॥

sa tat-sandarśanānanda-

nirvṛtātmendriyāśayaḥ

hṛṣṭa-romāśru-pūrṇākṣo

na sehe tāv udīkṣitum

Translation

The ecstasy of seeing Them completely satisfied Mārkaṇḍeya’s body, mind and senses and caused the hairs on his body to stand on end and his eyes to fill with tears. Overwhelmed, Mārkaṇḍeya found it difficult to look at Them.

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.

Seeing the Lord Brings Complete Satisfaction

1
The ecstasy of seeing the Lord’s two forms completely satisfied Mārkaṇḍeya’s body, mind and senses.
2
His hairs stood on end, and his eyes filled with tears.
3
Mārkaṇḍeya was so overwhelmed that he found it difficult to look at Them.

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:

Attaining Your lotus feet is the only auspicious goal for the conditioned souls, and service to You fulfills all their desires. Your pastimes, enacted in the mode of pure goodness, can award everyone salvation from material life.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saḥhe, Mārkaṇḍeya
tatof Them
sandarśanabecause of seeing
ānandaby the ecstasy
nirvṛtapleased
ātmawhose body
indriyasenses
āśayaḥand mind

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
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 12.8
In this verse: “ecstasy”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Mārkaṇḍeya’s complete satisfaction reveal about his experience of seeing the Lord?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting on the satisfaction Mārkaṇḍeya felt in the Lord’s presence.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeing the Lord Brings Complete SatisfactionThis 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 12.8.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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