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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
11.15.2111.15.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.22

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.15.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

यदा मन उपादाय यद् यद् रूपं बुभूषति ।

तत्तद् भवेन्मनोरूपं मद्योगबलमाश्रय: ॥ २२ ॥

yadā mana upādāya

yad yad rūpaṁ bubhūṣati

tat tad bhaven mano-rūpaṁ

mad-yoga-balam āśrayaḥ

Translation

When the yogī, applying his mind in a certain way, desires to assume a particular form, that very form immediately appears. Such perfection is possible by absorbing the mind in the shelter of My inconceivable mystic potency, by which I assume innumerable forms.

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.

Service Leads to an Eternal Spiritual Body

  1. 1

    The perfection called kāma-rūpa allows a yogī to assume a desired form, even that of a demigod. It depends on absorption in the Lord’s inconceivable potency, by which He manifests innumerable forms.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees absorb their minds in a particular service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. They gradually assume a spiritual body for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.

  3. 3

    Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy names and following the regulative principles of human life lead to the ultimate perfection of kāma-rūpa: an eternal spiritual body in God’s kingdom.

Key points from the purport
  • This perfection is called kāma-rūpa, or the ability to assume any form that one desires, even the form of a demigod.
  • The pure devotees absorb their minds in a particular type of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa and thus gradually assume a spiritual body for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.
  • Thus anyone who takes to the process of chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa and follows the regulative principles of human life can acquire the ultimate perfection of kāma-rūpa, assuming an eternal, spiritual body in the kingdom of God.

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:

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. All these perfections are automatically offered to a pure devotee, but he does not accept them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhen
  2. manaḥthe mind
  3. upādāyaapplying
  4. yat yatwhatever
  5. rūpamform
  6. bubhūṣatione desires to assume
  7. tat tatthat very form
  8. bhavetmay appear
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 I give more attention to serving Kṛṣṇa than to imagining a different material form?

Practice

Chant Kṛṣṇa’s holy names attentively for a few minutes today, with the intention of serving Him.

Live this todayService Leads to an Eternal Spiritual BodyThis 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 11.15.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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