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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
12.9.612.9.8-9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.9.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 12.9.7inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

इतीडितोऽर्चित: काममृषिणा भगवान् मुने ।

तथेति स स्मयन् प्रागाद् बदर्याश्रममीश्वर: ॥ ७ ॥

sūta uvāca

itīḍito ’rcitaḥ kāmam

ṛṣiṇā bhagavān mune

tatheti sa smayan prāgād

badary-āśramam īśvaraḥ

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: O wise Śaunaka, thus satisfied by Mārkaṇḍeya’s praise and worship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, smiling, replied, “So be it,” and then departed for His hermitage at Badarikāśrama.

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.

The Lord Prefers Devotees Beyond Illusion

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord, appearing as the twin sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa, accepted Mārkaṇḍeya’s request and departed for Badarikāśrama.

  2. 2

    The Lord smiled ruefully because He prefers His pure devotees to stay away from His illusory energy. Curiosity about that energy can develop into sinful material desire.

  3. 3

    To please Mārkaṇḍeya, the Lord granted his request, knowing what would follow. The purport compares this to a father allowing a son to learn from the painful result of a harmful desire.

Key points from the purport
  • The words bhagavān and īśvara in this verse refer to the Supreme Lord in His incarnation as the twin sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the Supreme Lord smiled ruefully, because He prefers that His pure devotees stay away from His illusory energy.
  • Thus, understanding what would soon happen to Mārkaṇḍeya, the Lord smiled as He prepared to display the illusory potency to him.

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:

The Supreme Lord Śrī Hari, present before Mārkaṇḍeya in the form of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, replied, “So be it,” and then left for Badarikāśrama. One day, as Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya was offering his evening prayers, the water of devastation suddenly flooded the three worlds.
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. itiin these words
  3. īḍitaḥglorified
  4. arcitaḥworshiped
  5. kāmamsatisfactorily
  6. ṛṣiṇāby the sage Mārkaṇḍeya
  7. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  8. muneO wise Śaunaka
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is any curiosity drawing me away from devotional service toward material desire?

Practice

Set aside one distracting curiosity today and use that moment to offer praise to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Prefers Devotees Beyond 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 12.9.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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