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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
11.15.2711.15.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.28

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

मद्भ‍क्त्या शुद्धसत्त्वस्य योगिनो धारणाविद: ।

तस्य त्रैकालिकी बुद्धिर्जन्ममृत्यूपबृंहिता ॥ २८ ॥

mad-bhaktyā śuddha-sattvasya

yogino dhāraṇā-vidaḥ

tasya trai-kālikī buddhir

janma-mṛtyūpabṛṁhitā

Translation

A yogī who has purified his existence by devotion to Me and who thus expertly knows the process of meditation obtains knowledge of past, present and future. He can therefore see the birth and death of himself and others.

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.

Devotion Purifies the Yogī’s Existence

  1. 1

    Devotion to Kṛṣṇa purifies the yogī’s existence.

  2. 2

    A yogī thus purified, who expertly knows meditation, obtains knowledge of past, present and future. This includes seeing the birth and death of himself and others.

  3. 3

    After explaining eight primary and ten secondary mystic perfections, the Lord now begins explaining five inferior potencies.

Key points from the purport
  • After having explained the eight primary and ten secondary mystic perfections of yoga, the Lord now explains the five inferior potencies.

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:

Unless used in the yoga of devotional service, these perfections are valueless. A devotee simply sees that the Personality of Godhead is always present everywhere, both externally and internally, and depends completely upon Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mat-bhaktyāby devotion to Me
  2. śuddha-sattvasyaof one whose existence is purified
  3. yoginaḥof a yogī
  4. dhāraṇā-viduḥwho knows the process of meditation
  5. tasyaof him
  6. trai-kālikīfunctioning in three phases of time, namely past, present and future
  7. buddhiḥintelligence
  8. janma-mṛtyubirth and death
  9. upabṛṁhitāincluding
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “purified”, “purifies”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

  • 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

Am I more attracted to purification through devotion or to knowledge of the future?

Practice

Pause for one minute to meditate on Kṛṣṇa, making devotion rather than curiosity about the future your focus.

Live this todayDevotion Purifies the Yogī’s ExistenceThis 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 11.15.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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