SB 12.6.70 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.6.70

य एवेमं लोकमतिकरालवदनान्धकारसंज्ञाजगरग्रह गिलितं मृतकमिव विचेतनमवलोक्यानुकम्पया परमकारुणिक ईक्षयैवोत्थाप्याहरहरनुसवनं श्रेयसि स्वधर्माख्यात्मावस्थाने प्रवर्तयति ॥ ७० ॥

ya evemaṁ lokam ati-karāla-vadanāndhakāra-saṁjñājagara-graha-gilitaṁ mṛtakam iva vicetanam avalokyānukampayā parama-kāruṇika īkṣayaivotthāpyāhar ahar anusavanaṁ śreyasi sva-dharmākhyātmāva-sthane pravartayati.

[ya evemam lokam ati-karaala-vadanaandhakaara-samjnaajagara-graha-gilitam mritakam iva vichetanam avalokyaanukampayaa parama-kaarunika eekshayaivotthaapyaahar ahar anusavanam shreyasi sva-dharmaakhyaatmaava-sthane pravartayati.]

Word-for-word

yaḥ — who eva — alone imam — this lokam — world ati-karāla — very fearful vadana — the mouth of which andhakāra-saṁjña — known as darkness ajagara — by the python graha — seized gilitam — and swallowed mṛtakam — dead iva — as if vicetanam — unconscious avalokya — by glancing anukampayā — mercifully parama-kāruṇikaḥ — supremely magnanimous īkṣayā — by casting his glance eva — indeed utthāpya — raising them up ahaḥ ahaḥ — day after day anu-savanam — at the three sacred junctures of the day śreyasi — in the ultimate benefit sva-dharma-ākhya — known as the soul’s proper duty ātma-avasthāne — in the inclination toward spiritual life pravartayati — engages.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

yaḥ

who

eva

alone

imam

this

lokam

world

ati-karāla

very fearful

vadana

the mouth of which

andhakāra-saṁjña

known as darkness

ajagara

by the python

graha

seized

gilitam

and swallowed

mṛtakam

dead

iva

as if

vicetanam

unconscious

avalokya

by glancing

anukampayā

mercifully

parama-kāruṇikaḥ

supremely magnanimous

īkṣayā

by casting his glance

eva

indeed

utthāpya

raising them up

ahaḥ ahaḥ

day after day

anu-savanam

at the three sacred junctures of the day

śreyasi

in the ultimate benefit

sva-dharma-ākhya

known as the soul’s proper duty

ātma-avasthāne

in the inclination toward spiritual life

pravartayati

engages.

The world has been seized and swallowed by the python of darkness in its horrible mouth and has become unconscious, as if dead. But mercifully glancing upon the sleeping people of the world, you raise them up with the gift of sight. Thus you are most magnanimous. At the three sacred junctures of each day, you engage the pious in the path of ultimate good, inducing them to perform religious duties that situate them in their spiritual position.

Purport

According to Vedic culture, the three higher classes of society (the intellectual, political and mercantile sections) are formally connected with the spiritual master by initiation and receive the Gāyatrī mantra. This purifying mantra is chanted three times daily — at sunrise, noon and sunset. Auspicious moments for the performance of spiritual duties are calculated according to the sun’s path in the sky, and this systematic scheduling of spiritual duties is here attributed to the sun as the representative of God.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Looking at the almost dead, unconscious people seized and swallowed by darkness in the form of a python with a fearful mouth, being most merciful, by your compassionate glance, you wake them up, and engage them daily in the most auspicious activity, worship of ātmā, their real duty. Rising over Eastern Mountain, you glance upon the world. You engage people in worship of ātmā (ātmāvasthāne), which is their duty.

Personal Guidance

The world swallowed by the python of darkness becomes unconscious; only the Lord's merciful glance can revive it. Dawn is itself a daily mercy. The Lord's gaze is what keeps anyone awake at all.

Reflection Questions

When have I felt 'looked at' by something larger and come back to life?
How can I be a glance of mercy for someone in darkness today?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io