Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 8

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

विदुरोद्धवसंवाद: क्षत्तृमैत्रेययोस्तत: । पुराणसंहिताप्रश्न‍ो महापुरुषसंस्थिति: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

viduroddhava-saṁvādaḥ kṣattṛ-maitreyayos tataḥ purāṇa-saṁhitā-praśno mahā-puruṣa-saṁsthitiḥ

Translation

Diese Schrift berichtet auch von Viduras Gesprächen mit Uddhava und danach mit Maitreya. Sie enthält Fragen zum Inhalt dieser Purāṇa-Saṃhitā und beschreibt, wie zur Zeit des pralaya die Schöpfung im Körper des Mahāpuruṣa, des höchsten Herrn, zusammengezogen und beendet wird.

Synonyms

• विदुर-उद्धव-संवादः: the dialogue of Vidura and Uddhava
• विदुर-उद्धव-संवादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदुर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धव (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विदुरोद्धवयोः संवादः)

• क्षत्तृ-मैत्रेययोः: of Kṣattā (Vidura) and Maitreya
• क्षत्तृ-मैत्रेययोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (क्षत्ताच मैत्रेयश्च)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/कारण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• पुराण-संहिता-प्रश्नः: the question about the Purāṇa compendium
• पुराण-संहिता-प्रश्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुराणसंहितायाः प्रश्नः)

• महापुरुष-संस्थितिः: the position/nature of the Supreme Person
• महापुरुष-संस्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महापुरुषस्य संस्थितिः)

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Uddhava
• Maitreya
• Mahā-puruṣa

FAQs

What topics are summarized in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.12.8?

It lists key subject-matter: Vidura’s dialogue with Uddhava, Vidura’s discussion with Maitreya, an inquiry into the Purāṇic compilation, and the established truth about the Supreme Person (Mahā-puruṣa).

Why are the Vidura–Uddhava and Vidura–Maitreya conversations important in the Bhagavata Purana?

They are major teaching sections where a sincere seeker (Vidura) receives bhakti-centered guidance—first from Uddhava and then from the sage Maitreya—clarifying divine truth and the Lord’s position.

How can the teaching of ‘Mahā-puruṣa saṁsthiti’ be applied in modern life?

By grounding one’s worldview in the Supreme Lord’s central position—seeing life, duty, and suffering in relation to Him—one gains clarity, steadiness, and a bhakti-oriented purpose.