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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 15: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections
11.15.2211.15.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.23

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

परकायं विशन् सिद्ध आत्मानं तत्र भावयेत् ।

पिण्डं हित्वा विशेत् प्राणो वायुभूत: षडङ्‍‍घ्रिवत् ॥ २३ ॥

para-kāyaṁ viśan siddha

ātmānaṁ tatra bhāvayet

piṇḍaṁ hitvā viśet prāṇo

vāyu-bhūtaḥ ṣaḍaṅghri-vat

Translation

When a perfect yogī desires to enter another’s body, he should meditate upon himself within the other body, and then, giving up his own gross body, he should enter the other’s body through the pathways of air, as easily as a bee leaves one flower and flies into another.

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.

Devotees Seek No Other Material Body

  1. 1

    The perfection called para-kāya-praveśanam allows a perfected yogī to enter another person’s body. The subtle body travels through pathways of air, like a bee moving between flowers.

  2. 2

    Admiration for another person’s extraordinary material body can create the desire to experience life within it. This mystic perfection provides that opportunity.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees meditate on the spiritual form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are not attracted to any material body. They remain transcendental and satisfied on the platform of eternal life.

Key points from the purport
  • As air is inhaled into the body through the nostrils and mouth, similarly, the life air of the yogī’s subtle body travels through the pathways of external air and easily enters into the body of another person, just as the bee easily flies from flower to flower.
  • Pure devotees, being absorbed in meditation upon the spiritual form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are not actually attracted to any material body.
  • Thus the devotees remain transcendental and satisfied on the platform of eternal life.

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. paraof another
  2. kāyamthe body
  3. viśandesiring to enter
  4. siddhaḥone perfected in yoga practice
  5. ātmānamoneself
  6. tatrain that body
  7. bhāvayetimagines
  8. piṇḍamone’s own gross body
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “material”

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

When I admire another person’s body, can I turn my attention toward the Lord’s spiritual form instead?

Practice

If you catch yourself wishing for someone else’s appearance today, pause and spend a moment remembering the Lord’s spiritual form.

Live this todayDevotees Seek No Other Material 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 11.15.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.