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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.15.4-5

Who is speaking and story frame

अणिमा महिमा मूर्तेर्लघिमा प्राप्तिरिन्द्रियै: ।

प्राकाम्यं श्रुतद‍ृष्टेषु शक्तिप्रेरणमीशिता ॥ ४ ॥

गुणेष्वसङ्गो वशिता यत्कामस्तदवस्यति ।

एता मे सिद्धय: सौम्य अष्टावौत्पत्तिका मता: ॥ ५ ॥

aṇimā mahimā mūrter

laghimā prāptir indriyaiḥ

prākāmyaṁ śruta-dṛṣṭeṣu

śakti-preraṇam īśitā

guṇeṣv asaṅgo vaśitā

yat-kāmas tad avasyati

etā me siddhayaḥ saumya

aṣṭāv autpattikā matāḥ

Translation

Among the eight primary mystic perfections, the three by which one transforms one’s own body are aṇimā, becoming smaller than the smallest; mahimā, becoming greater than the greatest; and laghimā, becoming lighter than the lightest. Through the perfection of prāpti one acquires whatever one desires, and through prākāmya-siddhi one experiences any enjoyable object, either in this world or the next. Through īśitā-siddhi one can manipulate the subpotencies of māyā, and through the controlling potency called vaśitā-siddhi one is unimpeded by the three modes of nature. One who has acquired kāmāvasāyitā-siddhi can obtain anything from anywhere, to the highest possible limit. My dear gentle Uddhava, these eight mystic perfections are considered to be naturally existing and unexcelled within this world.

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.

All Mystic Powers Originate in Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Aṇimā, mahimā and laghimā change the body’s size or lightness. Prāpti grants acquisition, while prākāmya allows one to experience enjoyable objects in this world or the next.

  2. 2

    Īśitā manipulates the material subpotencies of māyā; vaśitā grants control or freedom from the control of the three modes. Kāmāvasāyitā brings the maximum powers of control, acquisition and enjoyment.

  3. 3

    These eight potencies naturally exist in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, in the highest degree. A yogī’s powers are insignificant expansions of the Lord’s mystic potency.

Key points from the purport
  • By this mystic perfection one can also enter into the senses of any other living entity through the predominating deities of the particular senses; and by thus utilizing the senses of others, one can acquire anything.
  • Through prākāmya one can experience any enjoyable object, either in this world or the next, and through īśitā, or the controlling potency, one can manipulate the subpotencies of māyā, which are material.
  • Therefore it is to be understood that these eight mystic perfections are insignificant expansions of the mystic potency of the Lord, who in Bhagavad-gītā is called Yogeśvara, the Supreme Lord of all mystic 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:

This chapter describes the eight primary and ten minor mystic perfections. They are developed by fixing one’s mind in yoga, but they are ultimately obstructions to achieving the spiritual abode of Lord Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aṇimāthe perfection of becoming smaller than the smallest
  2. mahimābecoming greater than the greatest
  3. mūrteḥof the body
  4. laghimābecoming lighter than the lightest
  5. prāptiḥacquisition
  6. indriyaiḥby the senses
  7. prākāmyamobtaining or performing whatever one desires
  8. śrutathings invisible,, about which one only hears
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”, “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 does knowing the source of mystic powers change my appreciation of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one of these powers and reread how the purport describes its fullness in Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayAll Mystic Powers Originate in KṛṣṇaThis 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 11.15.4-5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.