1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.15.6-711.15.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.15.8-9

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

त्रिकालज्ञत्वमद्वन्द्वं परचित्ताद्यभिज्ञता ।

अग्‍न्यर्काम्बुविषादीनां प्रतिष्टम्भोऽपराजय: ॥ ८ ॥

एताश्चोद्देशत: प्रोक्ता योगधारणसिद्धय: ।

यया धारणया या स्याद् यथा वा स्यान्निबोध मे ॥ ९ ॥

tri-kāla-jñatvam advandvaṁ

para-cittādy-abhijñatā

agny-arkāmbu-viṣādīnāṁ

pratiṣṭambho ’parājayaḥ

etāś coddeśataḥ proktā

yoga-dhāraṇa-siddhayaḥ

yayā dhāraṇayā yā syād

yathā vā syān nibodha me

Translation

The power to know past, present and future; tolerance of heat, cold and other dualities; knowing the minds of others; checking the influence of fire, sun, water, poison, and so on; and remaining unconquered by others — these constitute five perfections of the mystic process of yoga and meditation. I am simply listing these here according to their names and characteristics. Now please learn from Me how specific mystic perfections arise from specific meditations and also of the particular processes involved.

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.

Distinguish Lesser Powers from Higher Perfections

  1. 1

    Five further perfections include knowing past, present and future, tolerating dualities, knowing others’ minds, checking harmful influences and remaining unconquered.

  2. 2

    The ācāryas consider these quite inferior to the previously mentioned perfections, since they involve more or less ordinary physical and mental manipulations.

  3. 3

    The Lord has listed their names and characteristics. He now invites Uddhava to learn how particular perfections arise from particular meditations and processes.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the ācāryas these five perfections are considered to be quite inferior to the others already mentioned, since they involve more or less ordinary physical and mental manipulations.
  • According to Śrīla Madhvācārya, in the perfection called agny-arkāmbu-viṣādīnāṁ pratiṣṭambhaḥ, or checking the influence of fire, sun, water, poison, and so on, the term “and so on” refers to one’s remaining invulnerable to all types of weapons as well as attacks by nails, teeth, beating, curses and other such sources.

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:

Being questioned by Uddhava, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the characteristics of the eighteen mystic perfections and the particular kind of meditation by which each is achieved. In conclusion, Kṛṣṇa states that for one who desires to perform pure devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, the achievement of these mystic perfections is a waste of time, because they distract one from proper worship.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tri-kāla-jñatvamthe perfection of knowing past, present and future
  2. advandvambeing unaffected by dualities such as heat and cold
  3. paraof others
  4. cittathe mind
  5. ādiand so on
  6. abhijñatāknowing
  7. agniof fire
  8. arkathe sun
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

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 ready to learn the Lord’s explanation rather than judge a power merely by how impressive it sounds?

Practice

Reread the Lord’s invitation to learn from Him, then note one distinction between listing a power and understanding its process.

Live this todayDistinguish Lesser Powers from Higher PerfectionsThis 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 11.15.8-9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.