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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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 8 · Chapter 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva
8.12.98.12.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Mahādevasince 8.12.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नाहं परायुर्ऋषयो न मरीचिमुख्याजानन्ति यद्विरचितं खलु सत्त्वसर्गा: । यन्मायया मुषितचेतस ईश दैत्य-मर्त्यादय: किमुत शश्वदभद्रवृत्ता: ॥ १० ॥

nāhaṁ parāyur ṛṣayo na marīci-mukhyā

jānanti yad-viracitaṁ khalu sattva-sargāḥ

yan-māyayā muṣita-cetasa īśa daitya-

martyādayaḥ kim uta śaśvad-abhadra-vṛttāḥ

Translation

O my Lord, I, who am considered to be the best of the demigods, and Lord Brahmā and the great ṛṣis, headed by Marīci, are born of the mode of goodness. Nonetheless, we are bewildered by Your illusory energy and cannot understand what this creation is. Aside from us, what is to be said of others, like the demons and human beings, who are in the base modes of material nature [rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa]? How will they know You?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Even those situated in material goodness cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by that goodness alone. Lord Śiva acknowledges that even he, Lord Brahmā and the great ṛṣis are bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy.

  2. 2

    Devotional service must follow authorized Vedic scriptures under the guidance of a proper spiritual master. Ignoring these instructions creates disturbance rather than understanding.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can be understood through bhakti-yoga. Taking shelter of Him and hearing Him speak about Himself brings knowledge and detachment.

Key points from the purport
  • Factually speaking, even those who are situated in the material mode of goodness cannot understand the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • There are so many philosophers trying to understand the Absolute Truth, but since they are situated in the base qualities of material nature and are addicted to so many bad habits, like drinking, meat-eating, illicit sex and gambling, how can they conceive of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
  • Without understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this way, one only creates a disturbance.

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

Connected verses· 5

The purport of SB 8.12.10 quotesBG 7.19

Such a great soul is very rare.”

The purport of SB 8.12.10 quotesSB 1.2.7

“By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.”

The purport of SB 8.12.10 quotesBG 18.66

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.”

The purport of SB 8.12.10 quotesBG 18.55

“One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service.”

The purport of SB 8.12.10 quotesBG 9.7

yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu. If one practices bhakti-yoga by taking shelter of Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, simply by hearing Vāsudeva speak about Himself, one can understand everything about Him.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Śiva offered obeisances to the Supreme Lord as the all-pervading Lord, the universal form, the supreme controller of creation, the Supersoul, the resting place for everyone, and the completely independent cause of all causes. Thus he offered prayers giving truthful descriptions of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.12
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. naneither
  2. ahamI
  3. para-āyuḥthat personality who lives for millions and millions of years (Lord Brahmā)
  4. ṛṣayaḥthe seven ṛṣis of the seven planets
  5. nanor
  6. marīci-mukhyāḥheaded by Marīci Ṛṣi
  7. jānantiknow
  8. yatby whom (the Supreme Lord)
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “understand”, “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

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

Am I trying to understand Kṛṣṇa through my own ideas, or through hearing and devotional service?

Practice

Read one instruction of Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā today, with the intention of taking shelter of His guidance.

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.

The purport quotesSB 1.2.7

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.12's connections

Live this todayUnderstand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 8.12.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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