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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
11.15.3011.15.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.31

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

उपासकस्य मामेवं योगधारणया मुने: ।

सिद्धय: पूर्वकथिता उपतिष्ठन्त्यशेषत: ॥ ३१ ॥

upāsakasya mām evaṁ

yoga-dhāraṇayā muneḥ

siddhayaḥ pūrva-kathitā

upatiṣṭhanty aśeṣataḥ

Translation

A learned devotee who worships Me through yoga meditation certainly obtains in all respects the mystic perfections that I have described.

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.

Perfections Follow Qualified Worship

  1. 1

    A learned devotee worships Kṛṣṇa through yoga meditation.

  2. 2

    Such worship brings the mystic perfections the Lord has described. The purport clarifies that each devotee obtains the particular perfection for which he has qualified himself.

  3. 3

    With this statement, the Lord concludes His discussion of yoga-siddhis, or mystic perfections.

Key points from the purport
  • The word yoga-dhāraṇayā indicates that each devotee obtains the particular perfection for which he has qualified himself.
  • The Lord thus concludes His discussion of yoga-siddhis.

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. upāsakasyaof one who is worshiping
  2. māmMe
  3. evamthus
  4. yoga-dhāraṇayāby the process of mystic meditation
  5. muneḥof a learned person
  6. siddhayaḥthe mystic perfections
  7. pūrvapreviously
  8. kathitāḥdescribed
  9. upatiṣṭhantiapproach
  10. aśeṣataḥin all respects
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: “devotee”, “worships”

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

What place does worship of Kṛṣṇa have in my understanding of yoga?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute to focus your mind on Kṛṣṇa in worship.

Live this todayPerfections Follow Qualified WorshipThis 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 11.15.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.