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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
12.8.2-512.8.7-11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.8.6

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

सूत उवाच

प्रश्न‍स्त्वया महर्षेऽयं कृतो लोकभ्रमापह: ।

नारायणकथा यत्र गीता कलिमलापहा ॥ ६ ॥

sūta uvāca

praśnas tvayā maharṣe ’yaṁ

kṛto loka-bhramāpahaḥ

nārāyaṇa-kathā yatra

gītā kali-malāpahā

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: O great sage Śaunaka, your very question will help remove everyone’s illusion, for it leads to the topics of Lord Nārāyaṇa, which cleanse away the contamination of this Kali age.

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.

Questions About Nārāyaṇa Cleanse Illusion

  1. 1

    Sūta Gosvāmī praises Śaunaka’s question because it can help remove everyone’s illusion.

  2. 2

    The question is valuable because it leads to topics of Lord Nārāyaṇa.

  3. 3

    Discussion of Lord Nārāyaṇa cleanses away the contamination of the Kali age.

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:

It seemed to Śaunaka that Mārkaṇḍeya had lived through two days of Brahmā, and he asked Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī to explain this. Suta Gosvāmī replied that the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, after receiving the purificatory ritual of brahminical initiation from his father, had fixed himself in the vow of lifelong celibacy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. praśnaḥquestion
  3. tvayāby you
  4. mahā-ṛṣeO great sage, Śaunaka
  5. ayamthis
  6. kṛtaḥmade
  7. lokaof the entire world
  8. bhramathe delusion
3

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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 12.8

    In this verse: “cleanse”, “contamination”, “cleanses”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.8

    In this verse: “illusion”

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

Do my questions help turn my attention toward the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today reading or discussing a topic about Lord Nārāyaṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayQuestions About Nārāyaṇa Cleanse IllusionThis 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 12.8.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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