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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
11.14.2411.14.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.25

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

यथाग्निना हेम मलं जहाति

ध्मातं पुन: स्वं भजते च रूपम् ।

आत्मा च कर्मानुशयं विधूय

मद्भ‍‍क्तियोगेन भजत्यथो माम् ॥ २५ ॥

yathāgninā hema malaṁ jahāti

dhmātaṁ punaḥ svaṁ bhajate ca rūpam

ātmā ca karmānuśayaṁ vidhūya

mad-bhakti-yogena bhajaty atho mām

Translation

Just as gold, when smelted in fire, gives up its impurities and returns to its pure brilliant state, similarly, the spirit soul, absorbed in the fire of bhakti-yoga, is purified of all contamination caused by previous fruitive activities and returns to its original position of serving Me in the spiritual world.

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.

Devotion Restores the Soul’s Original Purity

  1. 1

    Just as fire removes impurities from gold, bhakti-yoga removes contamination caused by previous fruitive activities.

  2. 2

    Gold mixed with inferior metals cannot be purified by water and soap. Similarly, superficial processes cannot cleanse the heart’s impurities.

  3. 3

    Only the fire of love of Godhead restores the soul to its original position. The devotee returns to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s abode to worship Him in the original spiritual body through eternal loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, this verse indicates that the devotee goes back home, back to Godhead, and there worships Lord Kṛṣṇa in his original spiritual body, which is compared to the original pure form of smelted gold.
  • Gold alloyed with inferior metals cannot be purified by water and soap; similarly, the heart’s impurities cannot be removed by superficial processes.
  • Only the fire of love of Godhead can cleanse one’s soul and send one back home, back to Godhead, to engage in eternal loving service to 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.

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. yathājust as
  2. agnināby fire
  3. hemagold
  4. malamimpurities
  5. jahātigives up
  6. dhmātamsmelted
  7. punaḥagain
  8. svamits own
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: “purified”, “contamination”, “cleanse”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”, “devotee”, “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

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 superficial improvement, or purification for loving service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and remember that its purpose is to develop love for Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayDevotion Restores the Soul’s Original PurityThis 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.

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