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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.9.22-25

Who is speaking and story frame

महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् ।

कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ २२ ॥

श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् ।

विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥ २३ ॥

पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् ।

श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥ २४ ॥

चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् ।

मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥

mahā-marakata-śyāmaṁ

śrīmad-vadana-paṅkajam

kambu-grīvaṁ mahoraskaṁ

su-nasaṁ sundara-bhruvam

śvāsaijad-alakābhātaṁ

kambu-śrī-karṇa-dāḍimam

vidrumādhara-bhāseṣac-

choṇāyita-sudhā-smitam

padma-garbhāruṇāpāṅgaṁ

hṛdya-hāsāvalokanam

śvāsaijad-vali-saṁvigna-

nimna-nābhi-dalodaram

cārv-aṅgulibhyāṁ pāṇibhyām

unnīya caraṇāmbujam

mukhe nidhāya viprendro

dhayantaṁ vīkṣya vismitaḥ

Translation

The infant’s dark-blue complexion was the color of a flawless emerald, His lotus face shone with a wealth of beauty, and His throat bore marks like the lines on a conchshell. He had a broad chest, a finely shaped nose, beautiful eyebrows, and lovely ears that resembled pomegranate flowers and that had inner folds like a conchshell’s spirals. The corners of His eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus, and the effulgence of His corallike lips slightly reddened the nectarean, enchanting smile on His face. As He breathed, His splendid hair trembled and His deep navel became distorted by the moving folds of skin on His abdomen, which resembled a banyan leaf. The exalted brāhmaṇa watched with amazement as the infant took hold of one of His lotus feet with His graceful fingers, placed a toe within His mouth and began to suck.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

Kṛṣṇa Tastes His Own Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    The infant had a dark-blue complexion, a beautiful lotus face and a nectarean, enchanting smile. Mārkaṇḍeya watched with amazement as He placed a toe in His mouth.

  2. 2

    The purport identifies the child as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, playing like an ordinary baby.

  3. 3

    According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Kṛṣṇa wished to experience the nectar of His lotus feet for which so many devotees hanker. Thus He began to suck on His toes.

Key points from the purport
  • The young child was the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Lord Kṛṣṇa wondered, “So many devotees are hankering for the nectar of My lotus feet.
  • Thus the Lord, playing like an ordinary baby, began to suck on His toes.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Lying upon a leaf of that tree was an infant boy glowing with a charming effulgence. As Mārkaṇḍeya moved toward the leaf, he was pulled by the boy’s inhalation and, just like a mosquito, drawn within His body.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mahā-marakatalike a great emerald
  2. śyāmamdark blue
  3. śrīmatbeautiful
  4. vadana-paṅkajamwhose lotus face
  5. kambulike a conchshell
  6. grīvamwhose throat
  7. mahābroad
  8. uraskamwhose chest
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “infant’s”, “child”, “baby”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “graceful”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “lovely”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the devotees’ longing for Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet inspire my own desire for devotional service?

Practice

Take one minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet with a desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Tastes His Own Lotus FeetThis 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 12.9.22-25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.