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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.2

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीउद्धव उवाच

कया धारणया कास्वित् कथं वा सिद्धिरच्युत ।

कति वा सिद्धयो ब्रूहि योगिनां सिद्धिदो भवान् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-uddhava uvāca

kayā dhāraṇayā kā svit

kathaṁ vā siddhir acyuta

kati vā siddhayo brūhi

yogināṁ siddhi-do bhavān

Translation

Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord Acyuta, by what process can mystic perfection be achieved, and what is the nature of such perfection? How many mystic perfections are there? Please explain these things to me. Indeed, You are the bestower of all mystic perfections.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Learn from the Bestower of Mystic Perfections

  1. 1

    Uddhava asks Lord Acyuta by what process mystic perfection can be achieved.

  2. 2

    He also asks about the nature of these perfections and how many there are.

  3. 3

    Uddhava recognizes the Lord as the bestower of all mystic perfections and asks Him to explain.

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:

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. In conclusion, Kṛṣṇa states that for one who desires to perform pure devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, the achievement of these mystic perfections is a waste of time, because they distract one from proper worship.
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-uddhavaḥ uvācaŚrī Uddhava said
  2. kayāby what
  3. dhāraṇayāprocess of meditation
  4. kā svitwhich indeed
  5. kathamin what manner
  6. vāor
  7. siddhiḥmystic perfection
  8. acyutaMy dear Lord
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

How can Uddhava’s thoughtful questions guide the way I study the Lord’s teachings?

Practice

Write down one question you want to understand better as you read the Lord’s explanation.

Live this todayLearn from the Bestower of Mystic PerfectionsThis 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 11.15.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.