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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 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment
11.20.1811.20.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.20.19

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.20.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

धार्यमाणं मनो यर्हि भ्राम्यदश्वनवस्थितम् ।

अतन्द्रितोऽनुरोधेन मार्गेणात्मवशं नयेत् ॥ १९ ॥

dhāryamāṇaṁ mano yarhi

bhrāmyad āśv anavasthitam

atandrito ’nurodhena

mārgeṇātma-vaśaṁ nayet

Translation

Whenever the mind, being concentrated on the spiritual platform, is suddenly deviated from its spiritual position, one should carefully bring it under the control of the self by following the prescribed 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.

Carefully Bring the Wandering Mind Back

  1. 1

    Even during serious practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the flickering mind may suddenly wander. One should carefully bring it back under the control of the self.

  2. 2

    Neither excessive austerity nor excessive sense enjoyment helps control the mind. Limited satisfaction, such as a reasonable amount of mahā-prasādam or occasional recreation with transcendentalists, may help, but excess causes setbacks.

  3. 3

    When the mind seeks sinful gratification, one must tolerate its foolish demands and firmly continue Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The waves of illusion will subside, allowing spiritual advancement to resume.

Key points from the purport
  • Although one is seriously engaging the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the mind is so flickering that it may suddenly be deviated from its spiritual position.
  • One should then carefully bring the mind back under the control of the self.
  • Sometimes one may bring the mind under control by allowing the material senses limited satisfaction.

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 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Rather, one should conquer the senses and the vital air and by intelligence endowed with the qualities of goodness should bring the mind under control. Until the mind finally becomes stable, one should continue to meditate about the process of the creation of all material things in sequence from subtle to gross and of their destruction in reverse sequence of gross to subtle.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dhāryamāṇambeing concentrated on the spiritual platform
  2. manaḥthe mind
  3. yarhiwhen
  4. bhrāmyatis deviated
  5. āśusuddenly
  6. anavasthitamnot situated on the spiritual platform
  7. atandritaḥcarefully
  8. anurodhenaaccording to the prescribed regulations
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “illusion”

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

When my mind wanders, do I respond with careful effort or simply follow it?

Practice

During today's devotional practice, notice one distraction and carefully return your attention to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Live this todayCarefully Bring the Wandering Mind BackThis 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 11.20.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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