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

12345678910111213

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 ›
Canto 12 · Chapter 9: Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Sees the Illusory Potency of the Lord
12.9.712.9.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 12.9.8-9

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

तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमृषि: स्वाश्रम एव स: ।

वसन्नग्‍न्यर्कसोमाम्बुभूवायुवियदात्मसु ॥ ८ ॥

ध्यायन् सर्वत्र च हरिं भावद्रव्यैरपूजयत् ।

क्‍वचित् पूजां विसस्मार प्रेमप्रसरसम्प्लुत: ॥ ९ ॥

tam eva cintayann artham

ṛṣiḥ svāśrama eva saḥ

vasann agny-arka-somāmbu-

bhū-vāyu-viyad-ātmasu

dhyāyan sarvatra ca hariṁ

bhāva-dravyair apūjayat

kvacit pūjāṁ visasmāra

prema-prasara-samplutaḥ

Translation

Thinking always of his desire to see the Lord’s illusory energy, the sage remained in his āśrama, meditating constantly upon the Lord within fire, the sun, the moon, water, the earth, air, lightning and his own heart and worshiping Him with paraphernalia conceived in his mind. But sometimes, overwhelmed by waves of love for the Lord, Mārkaṇḍeya would forget to perform his regular worship.

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.

Worship Filled With Love, Not Material Ambition

  1. 1

    Mārkaṇḍeya constantly meditated upon the Lord within the elements, the sun, the moon and his own heart, offering worship with paraphernalia conceived in his mind.

  2. 2

    Sometimes waves of love for the Lord overwhelmed him so completely that he forgot his regular worship.

  3. 3

    He was a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. His desire to see the Lord’s illusory energy was meant to understand how it works, not to fulfill material ambition.

Key points from the purport
  • It is apparent from these verses that Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi was a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore he wanted to see the illusory energy of the Lord not to fulfill some material ambition but to learn how His potency is working.

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:

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. tamthat
  2. evaindeed
  3. cintayanthinking of
  4. arthamthe goal
  5. ṛṣiḥthe sage Mārkaṇḍeya
  6. sva-āśrameat his own hermitage
  7. evaindeed
  8. saḥhe
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: “worshiping”, “devotee”, “worship”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.9

    In this verse: “āśrama”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my desire to understand the Lord’s potency rooted in devotion or material ambition?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute offering the Lord worship with paraphernalia conceived in your mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship Filled With Love, Not Material AmbitionThis 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 12.9.8-9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories