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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 9: Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Sees the Illusory Potency of the Lord
12.8.4912.9.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.9.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.9.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

संस्तुतो भगवानित्थं मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता ।

नारायणो नरसख: प्रीत आह भृगूद्वहम् ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca

saṁstuto bhagavān itthaṁ

mārkaṇḍeyena dhīmatā

nārāyaṇo nara-sakhaḥ

prīta āha bhṛgūdvaham

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: The Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, the friend of Nara, was satisfied by the proper glorification offered by the intelligent sage Mārkaṇḍeya. Thus the Lord addressed that excellent descendant of Bhṛgu.

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.

Proper Glorification Pleases the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The intelligent sage Mārkaṇḍeya offered proper glorification to the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, the friend of Nara.

  2. 2

    The Lord was satisfied by the sage’s praise.

  3. 3

    The Lord then addressed Mārkaṇḍeya, that excellent descendant of Bhṛgu.

How it feels

Terror and bewilderment → Wonder and surrender. Annihilation gives way to a tender divine vision.

Chapters 9–10 of Canto 12: Mārkaṇḍeya witnesses the deluge and divine child. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 9: Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Sees the Illusory Potency of the Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Satisfied by the prayers Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya had offered, the Supreme Lord told him to ask for a benediction, and the sage said he wanted to see the Lord’s illusory energy. The Supreme Lord Śrī Hari, present before Mārkaṇḍeya in the form of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, replied, “So be it,” and then left for Badarikāśrama.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. saṁstutaḥproperly glorified
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  4. itthamin this way
  5. mārkaṇḍeyenaby Mārkaṇḍeya
  6. dhī-matāthe intelligent sage
  7. nārāyaṇaḥLord Nārāyaṇa
  8. nara-sakhaḥthe friend of Nara
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “glorification”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my praise of the Lord more thoughtful and sincere?

Practice

Offer one thoughtful sentence of praise to the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 12.9's connections

Live this todayProper Glorification Pleases the Supreme LordThis 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 12.9.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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