1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.8.40

Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣisince 12.8.40inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच

किं वर्णये तव विभो यदुदीरितोऽसु:

संस्पन्दते तमनु वाङ्‌मनइन्द्रियाणि ।

स्पन्दन्ति वै तनुभृतामजशर्वयोश्च

स्वस्याप्यथापि भजतामसि भावबन्धु: ॥ ४० ॥

śrī-mārkaṇḍeya uvāca

kiṁ varṇaye tava vibho yad-udīrito ’suḥ

saṁspandate tam anu vāṅ-mana-indriyāṇi

spandanti vai tanu-bhṛtām aja-śarvayoś ca

svasyāpy athāpi bhajatām asi bhāva-bandhuḥ

Translation

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: O Almighty Lord, how can I possibly describe You? You awaken the vital air, which then impels the mind, senses and power of speech to act. This is true for all ordinary conditioned souls and even for great demigods like Brahmā and Śiva. So it is certainly true for me. Nevertheless, You become the intimate friend of those who worship You.

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.

The Almighty Becomes His Worshipers’ Friend

  1. 1

    Mārkaṇḍeya humbly asks how he can possibly describe the Almighty Lord.

  2. 2

    The Lord awakens the vital air, which sets the mind, senses and speech into action. Even Brahmā and Śiva depend on Him in this way.

  3. 3

    Although everyone depends on His power, the Lord becomes the intimate friend of those who worship Him.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvācaŚrī Mārkaṇḍeya said
  2. kimwhat
  3. varṇayeshall I describe
  4. tavaabout You
  5. vibhoO Almighty Lord
  6. yatby whom
  7. udīritaḥmoved
  8. asuḥthe vital air
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.8

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 12.8

    In this verse: “friend”

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 remembering that your speech depends on the Lord change the way you use it?

Practice

Use your power of speech today to offer the Lord a short prayer of gratitude.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Almighty Becomes His Worshipers’ FriendThis 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 12.8.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.