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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
11.15.3311.15.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.34

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

जन्मौषधितपोमन्त्रैर्यावतीरिह सिद्धय: ।

योगेनाप्नोति ता: सर्वा नान्यैर्योगगतिं व्रजेत् ॥ ३४ ॥

janmauṣadhi-tapo-mantrair

yāvatīr iha siddhayaḥ

yogenāpnoti tāḥ sarvā

nānyair yoga-gatiṁ vrajet

Translation

Whatever mystic perfections can be achieved by good birth, herbs, austerities and mantras can all be achieved by devotional service to Me; indeed, one cannot achieve the actual perfection of yoga by any other means.

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.

Devotional Service Is Yoga’s True Perfection

  1. 1

    All mystic perfections available through birth, herbs, austerities and mantras can be achieved by devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Pursuing these powers for their own sake wastes time and obstructs Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    Yoga is meant to satisfy the Lord’s senses, not our own. Giving up Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet to seek happiness in mystic powers leads to frustration.

  3. 3

    By meditating exclusively on Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one achieves the ultimate goal of yoga. This means living on His planet and enjoying spiritual opulences there.

Key points from the purport
  • By taking birth as a demigod one is automatically endowed with many mystic perfections.
  • Patañjali Muni states that the mystic perfections of yoga can be achieved by birth, herbs, austerities and mantras.
  • The Lord states, however, that such perfections are ultimately a waste of time and an impediment to achieving the actual perfection of yoga, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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. janmaby birth
  2. auṣadhiherbs
  3. tapaḥausterities
  4. mantraiḥand by mantras
  5. yāvatīḥas many as there are
  6. ihain this world
  7. siddhayaḥperfections
  8. yogenaby devotional service to Me
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: “devotional service”

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 approaching devotional service to satisfy Kṛṣṇa or to gain something for myself?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa, with the intention of pleasing Him rather than gaining any power.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Yoga’s True PerfectionThis 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 11.15.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.