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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
11.15.3111.15.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.32

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

जितेन्द्रियस्य दान्तस्य जितश्वासात्मनो मुने: ।

मद्धारणां धारयत: का सा सिद्धि: सुदुर्लभा ॥ ३२ ॥

jitendriyasya dāntasya

jita-śvāsātmano muneḥ

mad-dhāraṇāṁ dhārayataḥ

kā sā siddhiḥ su-durlabhā

Translation

For a sage who has conquered his senses, breathing and mind, who is self-controlled and always absorbed in meditation on Me, what mystic perfection could possibly be difficult to achieve?

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.

Meditate on the Lord’s Transcendental Form

  1. 1

    For a self-controlled sage who has conquered his senses, breathing and mind and remains absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, no mystic perfection is difficult to achieve.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that there is no need to practice many different processes. Completely carrying out even one of the described procedures brings sense control, absorption in the Lord and mystic perfections.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī emphasizes meditation on the Lord’s transcendental form, free from material designations. This is the essence of advancement in yoga, with perfections coming from the personal body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī notes that one must meditate on the transcendental form of the Lord, which is free from any material designation.
  • This is the essence of advancing in the yoga system; thus one acquires all mystic perfections very easily from the personal body of the Personality of Godhead.

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. jita-indriyasyaof one who has conquered his senses
  2. dāntasyawho is disciplined and self-controlled
  3. jita-śvāsawho has conquered his breathing
  4. ātmanaḥand conquered the mind
  5. muneḥof such a sage
  6. matin Me
  7. dhāraṇāmmeditation
  8. dhārayataḥwho is conducting
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “free from”

  • 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

How can I give more steady attention to the Lord’s transcendental form?

Practice

Put aside one distraction and spend two minutes meditating on Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental form.

Live this todayMeditate on the Lord’s Transcendental FormThis 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.

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