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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva
8.12.88.12.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.9

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

त्वां ब्रह्म केचिदवयन्त्युत धर्ममेकेएके परं सदसतो: पुरुषं परेशम् । अन्येऽवयन्ति नवशक्तियुतं परं त्वांकेचिन्महापुरुषमव्ययमात्मतन्त्रम् ॥ ९ ॥

tvāṁ brahma kecid avayanty uta dharmam eke

eke paraṁ sad-asatoḥ puruṣaṁ pareśam

anye ’vayanti nava-śakti-yutaṁ paraṁ tvāṁ

kecin mahā-puruṣam avyayam ātma-tantram

Translation

Those who are known as the impersonalist Vedāntists regard You as the impersonal Brahman. Others, known as the Mīmāṁsaka philosophers, regard You as religion. The Sāṅkhya philosophers regard You as the transcendental person who is beyond prakṛti and puruṣa and who is the controller of even the demigods. The followers of the codes of devotional service known as the Pañcarātras regard You as being endowed with nine different potencies. And the Patañjala philosophers, the followers of Patañjali Muni, regard You as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead, who has no equal or superior.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Different Philosophies Describe the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Impersonalist Vedāntists regard the Lord as impersonal Brahman. Mīmāṁsaka philosophers regard Him as religion.

  2. 2

    Sāṅkhya philosophers regard Him as the transcendental person beyond prakṛti and puruṣa, controlling even the demigods. Followers of the Pañcarātras, the codes of devotional service, regard Him as endowed with nine potencies.

  3. 3

    The followers of Patañjali Muni regard Him as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead. He has no equal or superior.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvāmYou
  2. brahmathe supreme truth, the Absolute Truth, Brahman
  3. kecitsome people, namely the group of Māyāvādīs known as the Vedāntists
  4. avayanticonsider
  5. utacertainly
  6. dharmamreligion
  7. ekesome others
  8. ekesome others
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “religion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophers”

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

What stands out to you in the description of the Lord as independent, with no equal or superior?

Practice

Read the translation once more and write down its description of the Lord as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDifferent Philosophies Describe 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 8.12.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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