1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 11 · Chapter 12: Beyond Renunciation and Knowledge
11.11.4911.12.3-6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.12.1-2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.12.1-2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

श्रीभगवानुवाच

न रोधयति मां योगो न साङ्ख्यं धर्म एव च ।

न स्वाध्यायस्तपस्त्यागो नेष्टापूर्तं न दक्षिणा ॥ १ ॥

व्रतानि यज्ञश्छन्दांसि तीर्थानि नियमा यमा: ।

यथावरुन्धे सत्सङ्ग: सर्वसङ्गापहो हि माम् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

na rodhayati māṁ yogo

na sāṅkhyaṁ dharma eva ca

na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo

neṣṭā-pūrtaṁ na dakṣiṇā

vratāni yajñaś chandāṁsi

tīrthāni niyamā yamāḥ

yathāvarundhe sat-saṅgaḥ

sarva-saṅgāpaho hi mām

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, by associating with My pure devotees one can destroy one’s attachment for all objects of material sense gratification. Such purifying association brings Me under the control of My devotee. One may perform the aṣṭāṅga-yoga system, engage in philosophical analysis of the elements of material nature, practice nonviolence and other ordinary principles of piety, chant the Vedas, perform penances, take to the renounced order of life, execute sacrificial performances and dig wells, plant trees and perform other public welfare activities, give in charity, carry out severe vows, worship the demigods, chant confidential mantras, visit holy places or accept major and minor disciplinary injunctions, but even by performing such activities one does not bring Me under his control.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotee Association Awakens Love of Godhead

  1. 1

    Association with pure devotees destroys attachment to material sense gratification. One can serve these devotees by assisting them or by having their personal association.

  2. 2

    Pure devotional service brings the blessings of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Association with His pure devotees brings Him under His devotee’s control more powerfully than other spiritual practices.

  3. 3

    The superiority of devotee association does not mean giving up prescribed vows such as Ekādaśī. Accept practices that support devotional service, keeping the satisfaction of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the goal.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Lord Kṛṣṇa mentions in these two verses that association with His pure devotees is far more powerful than processes such as yoga, philosophical speculation, sacrifices and public welfare activities, these secondary activities also please Lord Kṛṣṇa, but to a lesser extent.
  • In other words, such practices as sacrifice, austerity and philosophical study may help one become fit for rendering devotional service, and when such activities are performed by devotees aspiring for spiritual advancement, they become somewhat pleasing to the Lord.
  • Such sacrifice is recommended by the Lord Himself in the previous chapter, and therefore it should not be given up by the devotees of the Lord.

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

Connected verses· 3

The purport of SB 11.12.1-2 quotesSB 11.11.43-45

In the previous chapter Lord Kṛṣṇa stated, haviṣāgnau yajeta mām: “One may worship Me in fire by offering oblations of ghee.”

The purport of SB 11.12.1-2 quotesSB 11.11.29-32

In the previous chapter Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī mentioned that the words ājñāyaivaṁ guṇān doṣān indicate that a devotee should select Vedic principles that do not conflict with his service to the Lord.

The purport of SB 11.12.1-2 quotesSB 1.9.27

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.27) Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira in dāna-dharma, or public acts of charity, rāja-dharma, or the duties of a king, mokṣa-dharma, or duties for salvation, strī-dharma, or duties for women, and ultimately bhāgavata-dharma, or pure devotional service to the Lord.

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

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: Beyond Renunciation and Knowledge

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Neither yoga, Sāṅkhya philosophy, ordinary religious duties, study of scriptures, austerities, renunciation, works of iṣṭā and pūrtam, charity, vows of fasting, worship of the Deity, secret mantras, visiting of holy places, nor adherence to any major or minor regulative principles can effect the same result.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. na rodhayatidoes not control
  3. māmMe
  4. yogaḥthe aṣṭāṅga-yoga system
  5. naneither
  6. sāṅkhyamthe analytic study of the material elements
  7. dharmaḥordinary piety such as nonviolence
  8. evaindeed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.12

    In this verse: “attachment”, “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.12

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”, “devotional service”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.12

    In this verse: “renounced”

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

How can I give devotee association more importance while maintaining the practices that support my service?

Practice

Offer one small, practical help to a devotee today.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 11.11.43SB 11.11.32SB 1.9.27

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.12's connections

Live this todayDevotee Association Awakens Love of GodheadThis 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 11.12.1-2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.