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Study a Verse

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

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Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 13: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

11.13.12 11.13.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.13.13

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.13.9-10inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

अप्रमत्तोऽनुयुञ्जीत मनो मय्यर्पयञ्छनै: ।

अनिर्विण्णो यथाकालं जितश्वासो जितासन: ॥ १३ ॥

apramatto ’nuyuñjīta

mano mayy arpayañ chanaiḥ

anirviṇṇo yathā-kālaṁ

jita-śvāso jitāsanaḥ

Translation

A person should be attentive and grave and never lazy or morose. Mastering the yoga procedures of breathing and sitting properly, one should practice fixing the mind on Me at dawn, noon and sunset, and thus gradually the mind should be completely absorbed in Me.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Gradually Absorb the Mind in Kṛṣṇa

1
One should be attentive and grave, without becoming lazy or morose.
2
The Lord instructs one to master the yoga procedures of breathing and sitting properly, and to fix the mind on Him at dawn, noon and sunset.
3
Through gradual practice, the mind should become completely absorbed in Him.

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

Chapter 13: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lacking discrimination, one identifies with the material body, and consequently the mode of passion, which produces misery, takes over the mind, which is normally in the mode of goodness. As the mind evolves its function of decision and doubt, it creates intolerable hankerings for sense gratification.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.13