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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 15: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections
11.14.4611.15.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.1

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.15.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

श्रीभगवानुवाच

जितेन्द्रियस्य युक्तस्य जितश्वासस्य योगिन: ।

मयि धारयतश्चेत उपतिष्ठन्ति सिद्धय: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

jitendriyasya yuktasya

jita-śvāsasya yoginaḥ

mayi dhārayataś ceta

upatiṣṭhanti siddhayaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, the mystic perfections of yoga are acquired by a yogī who has conquered his senses, steadied his mind, conquered the breathing process and fixed his mind on Me.

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.

Fix Your Mind on Kṛṣṇa, Not Powers

  1. 1

    Mystic perfections appear for a yogī who has conquered his senses and breathing, steadied his mind, and fixed his consciousness on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    There are eight primary mystic perfections and ten secondary perfections.

  3. 3

    Such perfections are actually impediments to the development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore one should not desire them.

Key points from the purport
  • There are eight primary mystic perfections, such as aṇimā-siddhi, and ten secondary perfections.
  • In this Fifteenth Chapter Lord Kṛṣṇa will explain that such mystic perfections are actually impediments to the development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and that therefore one should not desire them.

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 15: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

They are developed by fixing one’s mind in yoga, but they are ultimately obstructions to achieving the spiritual abode of Lord Viṣṇu. Being questioned by Uddhava, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the characteristics of the eighteen mystic perfections and the particular kind of meditation by which each is achieved.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. jita-indriyasyaof one who has conquered his senses
  3. yuktasyawho has steadied the mind
  4. jita-śvāsasyaand conquered his breathing system
  5. yoginaḥof such a yogī
  6. mayiin Me
  7. dhārayataḥfixing
  8. cetaḥhis consciousness
  9. upatiṣṭhantiappear
  10. siddhayaḥthe mystic perfections of yoga.
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

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 more attracted to extraordinary powers or to developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to direct your mind toward Kṛṣṇa rather than toward gaining special abilities.

Live this todayFix Your Mind on Kṛṣṇa, Not PowersThis 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 11.15.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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