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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
11.15.3511.16.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.15.36

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

अहमात्मान्तरो बाह्योऽनावृत: सर्वदेहिनाम् ।

यथा भूतानि भूतेषु बहिरन्त: स्वयं तथा ॥ ३६ ॥

aham ātmāntaro bāhyo

’nāvṛtaḥ sarva-dehinām

yathā bhūtāni bhūteṣu

bahir antaḥ svayaṁ tathā

Translation

Just as the same material elements exist within and outside of all material bodies, similarly, I cannot be covered by anything else. I exist within everything as the Supersoul and outside of everything in My all-pervading feature.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Is Everywhere and Never Covered

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa exists within everything as the Supersoul and outside everything in His all-pervading feature. Nothing can cover Him.

  2. 2

    His presence within everything does not mean that He is divided into pieces. Nothing can interrupt, disturb or infringe upon His supreme existence.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the entire basis of meditation for all yogīs and philosophers. He is all-pervading and the ultimate perfection of everything.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is the entire basis of meditation for all yogīs and philosophers, and here the Lord clarifies His absolute position.
  • Since the Lord is within everything, one might think that the Lord is divided into pieces.
  • Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervading and is the ultimate perfection of everything.

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. ahamI
  2. ātmāthe Supreme Lord
  3. āntaraḥexisting within as the Supersoul
  4. bāhyaḥexisting externally in My all-pervading feature
  5. anāvṛtaḥuncovered
  6. sarva-dehināmof all living entities
  7. yathājust as
  8. bhūtānithe material elements
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.15

    In this verse: “philosophers”

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 does knowing that Kṛṣṇa is present everywhere change the way I meditate on Him?

Practice

Pause for one minute today to meditate on Lord Kṛṣṇa as present within everything and outside everything, yet never divided or disturbed.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Everywhere and Never CoveredThis 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 11.15.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.