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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
11.14.2011.14.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.21

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

भक्त्याहमेकया ग्राह्य: श्रद्धयात्मा प्रिय: सताम् ।

भक्ति: पुनाति मन्निष्ठा श्वपाकानपि सम्भवात् ॥ २१ ॥

bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ

śraddhayātmā priyaḥ satām

bhaktiḥ punāti man-niṣṭhā

śva-pākān api sambhavāt

Translation

Only by practicing unalloyed devotional service with full faith in Me can one obtain Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am naturally dear to My devotees, who take Me as the only goal of their loving service. By engaging in such pure devotional service, even the dog-eaters can purify themselves from the contamination of their low birth.

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.

Pure Devotion Purifies Beyond Birth

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can be obtained only through unalloyed devotional service with full faith. His devotees take Him as the only goal of their loving service.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that the pollution of low birth concerns spiritual enlightenment, not social, economic or professional status. Wealth and power do not protect a person from sinful habits.

  3. 3

    Even those taught sinful activities from birth can at once be purified by pure devotional service. This service must have Kṛṣṇa as its only goal, full faith and no selfish motivation.

Key points from the purport
  • Sambhavāt indicates jāti-doṣāt, or the pollution of low birth.
  • However, even unfortunate persons who are taught from birth to engage in sinful activities can at once be purified by the potency of pure devotional service.
  • Such service must have Lord Kṛṣṇa as the only goal (man-niṣṭhā), must be rendered with full faith (śraddhayā), and must be unalloyed, or without any selfish motivation (ekayā).

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· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.1.2

The Lord confirms this in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.21).

Quoted in the purport ofSB 7.9.47

Elsewhere in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.21), the Supreme Godhead personally says, bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ: one can understand the original cause of all causes, the Supreme Person, only by devotional service, not by show-bottle exhibitionism.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 7.10.14

“Even one born in a family of meat-eaters is purified if he engages in devotional service.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.10.38

Kṛṣṇa says, bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ: “Only by executing the activities of bhakti can one understand Me.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.13.54

This proves that Brahman and Paramātmā can actually be understood only through devotion, as confirmed by the Lord Himself in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ.

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:

Pure devotion, having the power to purify the heart, enables one to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and because the devotee is very dear to the Lord and is always close to Him, he is able in turn to purify the entire universe.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhaktyāby devotional service
  2. ahamI
  3. ekayāunalloyed
  4. grāhyaḥam to be obtained
  5. śraddhayāby faith
  6. ātmāthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. priyaḥthe object of love
  8. satāmof the devotees
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “purify”, “contamination”, “purified”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

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

Do I judge spiritual possibility by someone’s background rather than by the power of devotional service?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, consciously set aside personal gain and make Kṛṣṇa its only goal.

Live this todayPure Devotion Purifies Beyond BirthThis 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 11.14.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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