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

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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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 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava
11.14.1111.14.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.12

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.14.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

मय्यर्पितात्मन: सभ्य निरपेक्षस्य सर्वत: ।

मयात्मना सुखं यत्तत् कुत: स्याद् विषयात्मनाम् ॥ १२ ॥

mayy arpitātmanaḥ sabhya

nirapekṣasya sarvataḥ

mayātmanā sukhaṁ yat tat

kutaḥ syād viṣayātmanām

Translation

O learned Uddhava, those who fix their consciousness on Me, giving up all material desires, share with Me a happiness that cannot possibly be experienced by those engaged in sense gratification.

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.

Unlimited Happiness in Association With Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Those who fix their consciousness on Kṛṣṇa and give up material desires share happiness with Him that sense gratification cannot provide.

  2. 2

    Even material peace of mind, self-control and speculative philosophy do not bring perfection. The mode of goodness remains part of material illusion.

  3. 3

    The happiness described here comes from associating, in one’s spiritual body, with the Lord’s transcendental form. His qualities are infinite and wonderful, and the happiness of being with Him is unlimited.

Key points from the purport
  • But even if such persons rise to the platform of sattva-guṇa, the mode of goodness, they do not attain perfection, because sattva-guṇa, being material, is also part and parcel of māyā, or illusion.
  • The Lord’s transcendental form is filled with infinite, wonderful qualities, and the happiness of being with the Lord is unlimited.
  • Unfortunately, materialistic people cannot possibly imagine such happiness, since they are not at all inclined to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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· 1

The purport of SB 11.14.12 quotesSB 4.31.12

Indeed, no so-called materially auspicious process can induce the Lord to reveal Himself.”

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 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this way one becomes free from all desires for selfish gratification through enjoyment of mundane sense objects, and he becomes released from all hankering for either enjoyment or liberation. The Lord then proceeded to describe the superior process of devotional service, which destroys countless sinful reactions and produces many symptoms of spiritual happiness, such as the standing of the hairs on end.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mayiin Me
  2. arpitafixed
  3. ātmanaḥof one whose consciousness
  4. sabhyaO learned Uddhava
  5. nirapekṣasyaof one bereft of material desires
  6. sarvataḥin all respects
  7. mayāwith Me
  8. ātmanāwith the Supreme Personality of Godhead or with one’s own spiritual body
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 11.14

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “philosophy”

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

Am I seeking only a peaceful material life, or developing love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Set aside one pursuit of sense enjoyment today and use that time to fix your mind on Kṛṣṇa without asking for a material reward.

5

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 4.31.12

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.14's connections

Live this todayUnlimited Happiness in Association With KṛṣṇaThis 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 11.14.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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