The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, also known as the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, is one of the most revered scriptures in the Vaishnava tradition, describing the glories, pastimes, and teachings of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. It is considered the essence of all Vedic knowledge, focusing entirely on bhakti (devotional service). Among its 18,000 verses, 12.12.50 is particularly profound in highlighting the ever-renewing, ever-blissful nature of divine glorification.
tad eva ramyaṁ ruchiraṁ navaṁ navaṁ
tad eva śaśvan manaso mahotsavam
tad eva śokārṇava-śoṣaṇaṁ nṛṇāṁ
yad uttamaḥśloka-yaśo ’nugīyate
The Origin of This Verse: Context in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa
This verse appears in the twelfth canto (Skandha 12), chapter 12, which is dedicated to the glories of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam itself. The twelfth canto describes the decline of Dharma in Kali Yuga, the degradation of human values, and the increasing material struggles. However, it also offers a transcendental remedy—the chanting and remembrance of the divine glories of the Lord.
This verse (12.12.50) stands out as a declaration that devotional singing and glorification of the Supreme are unlike any worldly activity. Whereas mundane pleasures fade, the joy derived from divine remembrance only increases.
The previous verses in this chapter state that the Bhāgavatam is the highest Purāṇa, more powerful than all other scriptures because it focuses on uttamaḥ-śloka (the Lord praised by the best poetry). This particular verse poetically expresses why the chanting and hearing of divine names and pastimes is so potent.
Understanding the Meaning of the Verse
tad eva ramyaṁ ruchiraṁ navaṁ navaṁ
tad eva śaśvan manaso mahotsavam
tad eva śokārṇava-śoṣaṇaṁ nṛṇāṁ
yad uttamaḥśloka-yaśo ’nugīyate
Phonetic Pronunciation of it:
तद् एव रम्यं रुचिरं नवं नवम्
tad eva ram-yam ru-chi-ram na-vam na-vam
(tudh eh-vuh rum-yum roo-chi-rum nuh-vum nuh-vum)
तद् एव शश्वन् मनसो महोत्सवम्
tad eva sha-shvan ma-na-so ma-hot-sa-vam
(tudh eh-vuh shush-vun muh-nuh-soh muh-hot-suh-vum)
तद् एव शोकार्णव-शोषणं नृणाम्
tad eva sho-kār-ṇava-sho-ṣa-ṇam nṛ-ṇām
(tudh eh-vuh shoh-kaar-nuh-vuh shoh-shuh-num nrin-aam)
यद् उत्तमःश्लोक-यशोऽनुगीयते
yad ut-ta-maḥ-shlo-ka-ya-sho’nu-gī-ya-te
(yudh oot-tuh-muh shloh-kuh yuh-shoh’ noo-gee-yuh-they)
Now the meaning:
1. “Tad eva ramyaṁ ruchiraṁ navaṁ navaṁ”
(That very same thing remains ever delightful, ever fresh, and ever charming.)
- Here, tad eva (meaning “that very same thing”) refers to singing the glories of the Supreme Lord.
- Unlike worldly pleasures that become repetitive, spiritual joy does not fade—it remains ever fresh (navaṁ navaṁ).
- This line implies that the soul, being eternal, naturally delights in divine sound. Material experiences may seem pleasurable at first but ultimately lose their charm, while divine sound only deepens its sweetness with time.
Example: Saints like Mirabai, Tukaram, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu immersed themselves in divine singing for their entire lives, and yet, their joy only increased.
2. “Tad eva śaśvan manaso mahotsavam”
(That same thing is an eternal grand festival for the mind.)
- Śaśvat means “eternal,” and mahotsavam means “a great festival.”
- The glorification of the Lord is not merely an intellectual or emotional exercise—it is a celebration!
- Just as a festival fills the heart with excitement and enthusiasm, hearing and chanting the Lord’s pastimes brings boundless inner joy.
- The mind, which is restless and seeks new experiences, finds permanent satisfaction in devotion.
Example: The Kīrtan (chanting) movement of Bhakti saints has created mass spiritual awakenings, where devotees feel an ecstatic inner festival through divine sound.
3. “Tad eva śokārṇava-śoṣaṇaṁ nṛṇāṁ”
(That same thing dries up the vast ocean of sorrow for human beings.)
- The human condition is filled with suffering (śoka), which is often compared to an ocean (arṇava)—vast, deep, and overwhelming.
- Just as the sun can evaporate an ocean, divine glorification removes the ocean of sorrow and uplifts the heart.
- In Kali Yuga, a time of material struggle, mental unrest, and spiritual confusion, this verse offers a practical and powerful solution—engage in divine sound!
Example: The Bhakti tradition holds that simply hearing the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, chanting divine names, or listening to kīrtan can dispel sadness and bring inner peace. This is not theory but direct spiritual experience, as countless devotees have found solace in Nama Sankirtana (chanting the Holy Name).
4. “Yad uttamaḥśloka-yaśo ’nugīyate”
(That which describes the glories of the Supreme Lord, who is praised in the highest poetry.)
- The Lord is called Uttamaḥ-śloka, meaning “one whose glories are sung in the highest poetry.”
- This refers to the beauty of divine wisdom, which has been expressed through sacred hymns, mantras, and transcendental poetry throughout history.
- Anugīyate (continuously sung) means that this glorification is an unending activity, carried across time and space.
Example: The Vedas, Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad Gītā, and Sufi poetry all echo this sentiment—that the highest use of words is to glorify the Divine, and doing so elevates the speaker and the listener.
The Spiritual Science Behind This Verse
This verse is not just poetic philosophy—it describes a deep spiritual principle:
- Divine vibration is eternally fresh
- When we meditate, chant, or listen to sacred sounds, we access a dimension of joy that does not decay.
- The repetition of divine names creates neural patterns that induce peace and bliss (as confirmed in neuroscience studies on chanting).
- Sound creates reality
- In Hindu, Buddhist, and mystical traditions, sound is the origin of creation (Nāda Brahma – “The Universe is Sound”).
- Engaging in divine sound harmonizes our energy field, restoring balance and reducing suffering.
- Devotional sound transforms the mind
- Ordinary thoughts create mental agitation, but chanting the Lord’s name stabilizes the mind into higher frequencies of consciousness.
- This is why sages and enlightened beings continuously chant—not because they “must,” but because it is the greatest bliss!
The Timeless Power of Spiritual Sound as Demonstrated all over our Vedicvibes Youtube channel
This verse from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (12.12.50) is an invitation to experience the ever-renewing joy of divine glorification. It reveals a profound truth:
- Chanting and singing the divine names are not mechanical rituals but an eternal celebration of consciousness.
- Engaging in sacred sound dissolves suffering and awakens joy.
- The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is a living vibration, and when we connect with it, we enter the grand festival of spiritual bliss.
Thus, this verse is not just to be read—it is to be lived. The next time you chant the Gayatri Mantra, engage in kīrtan, or meditate on divine sounds, remember:
It is always new. It is always a festival. And it is the key to dissolving sorrow into the infinite joy of the Supreme. Shunyam Adhibhu
🙏 Jai Śrīmad Bhāgavatam! 🙏
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