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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 · Text 11.20.24

Who is speaking and story frame

यमादिभिर्योगपथैरान्वीक्षिक्या च विद्यया ।

ममार्चोपासनाभिर्वा नान्यैर्योग्यं स्मरेन्मन: ॥ २४ ॥

yamādibhir yoga-pathair

ānvīkṣikyā ca vidyayā

mamārcopāsanābhir vā

nānyair yogyaṁ smaren manaḥ

Translation

Through the various disciplinary regulations and the purificatory procedures of the yoga system, through logic and spiritual education or through worship and adoration of Me, one should constantly engage his mind in remembering the Personality of Godhead, the goal of yoga. No other means should be employed for this purpose.

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.

Direct Worship Is the Supreme Process

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the goal of yoga and the most appropriate object of meditation. The mind should be constantly engaged in remembering Him.

  2. 2

    One engaged in worship and adoration of the Lord need not undertake the demanding disciplinary and purificatory procedures of yoga. Nor must one master the intricate details of Vedic studies and logic.

  3. 3

    One who directly takes to worshiping the Lord should not employ other methods for this purpose. Full dependence on the Lord is itself the supreme process of perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • The word vā is significant in this verse, for it indicates that one engaged in the worship and adoration of the Personality of Godhead need not trouble himself with the disciplinary, regulatory and purificatory procedures of yoga, nor with the grueling intricacies of Vedic studies and logic.
  • Yogyam, or the most appropriate object of meditation, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as confirmed throughout Vedic literature.
  • One who directly takes to the worship of the Lord should not employ other methods, for full dependence on the Lord is in itself the supreme process of perfection.

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:

One who has a sense of detachment and renunciation can give up false identification with the body and other sense objects by constantly studying the instructions of his spiritual master. By the yoga practice of yama, niyama and so forth, by cultivation of transcendental knowledge and by worship of and meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can remember the Supersoul.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yama-ādibhiḥby disciplinary regulations, etc.
  2. yoga-pathaiḥby the procedures of the yoga system
  3. ānvīkṣikyāby logical analysis
  4. caalso
  5. vidyayāby spiritual knowledge
  6. mamaMy
  7. arcāworship
  8. upāsanābhiḥby adoration, etc.
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “purificatory”

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 learning to depend fully on the Lord through worship, or treating other methods as necessary for perfection?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to worship and remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead with an attitude of dependence on Him.

Live this todayDirect Worship Is the Supreme ProcessThis 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 11.20.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.