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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
11.14.111.14.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.14.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

भवतोदाहृत: स्वामिन् भक्तियोगोऽनपेक्षित: ।

निरस्य सर्वत: सङ्गं येन त्वय्याविशेन्मन: ॥ २ ॥

bhavatodāhṛtaḥ svāmin

bhakti-yogo ’napekṣitaḥ

nirasya sarvataḥ saṅgaṁ

yena tvayy āviśen manaḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, You have clearly explained the process of unalloyed devotional service, by which a devotee removes all material association from his life, enabling him to fix his mind on You.

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.

Fixing the Mind Through Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    Unalloyed devotional service removes material association and enables the devotee to fix the mind on Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The process that awards the highest perfection is primary. Methods that merely assist it are secondary.

  3. 3

    Because the mind is flickering and unsteady, clear intelligence must guide a progressive spiritual life. The purpose is to achieve the Absolute Truth in this lifetime.

Key points from the purport
  • It is now clearly established that pure devotional service is the supreme process for fixing the mind in the Supreme Truth, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • In discussing the relative advantages of different spiritual processes, one must immediately ascertain the goal of spiritual life and then isolate the process that actually awards this goal.
  • The mind is most flickering and unsteady; therefore by clear intelligence one must fix oneself in a progressive mode of life, and thus one can achieve the Absolute Truth in this lifetime.

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

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 chapter, Kṛṣṇa explains that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the most excellent method of spiritual practice. He also speaks about the process of meditation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhavatāby You
  2. udāhṛtaḥclearly stated
  3. svāminO my Lord
  4. bhakti-yogaḥdevotional service
  5. anapekṣitaḥwithout material desires
  6. nirasyaremoving
  7. sarvataḥin all respects
  8. saṅgammaterial association
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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

Which activities help me fix my mind on Kṛṣṇa, rather than distract me from Him?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to remember Kṛṣṇa, putting aside one material distraction.

Live this todayFixing the Mind Through Pure DevotionThis 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 11.14.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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