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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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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.23

Who is speaking and story frame

अव्याहतेष्टगतय: सुरसिद्धसाध्य-

गन्धर्वयक्षनरकिन्नरनागलोकान् ।

मुक्ताश्चरन्ति मुनिचारणभूतनाथ-

विद्याधरद्विजगवां भुवनानि कामम् ॥ २३ ॥

avyāhateṣṭa-gatayaḥ sura-siddha-sādhya-

gandharva-yakṣa-nara-kinnara-nāga-lokān

muktāś caranti muni-cāraṇa-bhūtanātha-

vidyādhara-dvija-gavāṁ bhuvanāni kāmam

Translation

The nine Yogendras are liberated souls who travel freely to the planets of the demigods, the perfected mystics, the Sādhyas, the heavenly musicians, the Yakṣas, the human beings, and the minor demigods such as the Kinnaras and the serpents. No mundane force can check their free movement, and exactly as they wish they can travel as well to the worlds of the sages, the angels, the ghostly followers of Lord Śiva, the Vidyādharas, the brāhmaṇas and the cows.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Liberated Sages Travel Without Material Hindrance

  1. 1

    The nine Yogendras are liberated souls. No mundane force can check their free movement.

  2. 2

    They travel freely among the worlds of demigods, perfected mystics, human beings, and many other beings.

  3. 3

    As they wish, they also visit the worlds of sages, brāhmaṇas, and cows. Their freedom extends far beyond movement on earth.

How it feels

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

They were direct associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Madhusūdana, and wandered freely to give protection to the various planets in the universe. The human body can be lost at any moment, but it is still a very rare attainment.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avyāhataunimpeded
  2. iṣṭa-gatayaḥin moving as they please
  3. suraof the demigods
  4. siddhaperfected mystics
  5. sādhyaSādhyas
  6. gandharvaheavenly musicians
  7. yakṣaassociates of Kuvera
  8. narahuman beings
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the sages’ freedom suggest to you about the difference between liberated life and material limitation?

Practice

Reread the translation and take a moment to reflect on the statement that no mundane force can check these liberated sages.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLiberated Sages Travel Without Material HindranceThis 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 11.2.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.