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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
11.14.2511.14.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.26

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

यथा यथात्मा परिमृज्यतेऽसौ

मत्पुण्यगाथाश्रवणाभिधानै: ।

तथा तथा पश्यति वस्तु सूक्ष्मं

चक्षुर्यथैवाञ्जनसम्प्रयुक्तम् ॥ २६ ॥

yathā yathātmā parimṛjyate ’sau

mat-puṇya-gāthā-śravaṇābhidhānaiḥ

tathā tathā paśyati vastu sūkṣmaṁ

cakṣur yathaivāñjana-samprayuktam

Translation

When a diseased eye is treated with medicinal ointment it gradually recovers its power to see. Similarly, as a conscious living entity cleanses himself of material contamination by hearing and chanting the pious narrations of My glories, he regains his ability to see Me, the Absolute Truth, in My subtle spiritual form.

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.

Hearing and Chanting Restore Spiritual Sight

  1. 1

    As medicinal ointment restores a diseased eye, hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s glories cleanse material contamination and restore spiritual sight.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s form is purely spiritual, without any tinge of material energy. Sincere hearing and chanting of His holy name and glories have an immediate transcendental effect.

  3. 3

    The bona fide spiritual master represents Lord Kṛṣṇa and restores our spiritual sight. This inspires lasting gratitude, like that of a blind person whose sight has been restored.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord is called sūkṣmam because He is pure spiritual consciousness, without any tinge of material energy.
  • We can immediately see the spiritual world and pastimes of the Lord if we fully surrender to the process mentioned here.
  • Similarly, we sing cakṣu-dāna dila yei, janme janme prabhu sei: the bona fide spiritual master, the representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa, restores our spiritual sight, and thus he is our eternal lord and master.

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:

Because the living entity, bewildered by illusion, is incapable of ascertaining his eternal benefit, he mistakenly identifies ordinary vows of penance, austerity, etc., to be the topmost spiritual practice. But the only true means of achieving happiness is to meditate on offering everything to the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yathā yathāas much as
  2. ātmāthe spirit soul, the conscious entity
  3. parimṛjyateis cleansed of material contamination
  4. asauhe
  5. mat-puṇya-gāthāthe pious narrations of My glories
  6. śravaṇaby hearing
  7. abhidhānaiḥand by chanting
  8. tathā tathāexactly in that proportion
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”, “narrations”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “cleanses”, “contamination”, “cleanse”

  • 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

How attentive and sincere am I when hearing Kṛṣṇa’s names and glories?

Practice

Hear a short narration of Kṛṣṇa’s glories, then repeat aloud one thing you heard.

Live this todayHearing and Chanting Restore Spiritual SightThis 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 11.14.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.