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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.20.30 11.20.32-33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.20.31

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

तस्मान्मद्भ‍‍क्तियुक्तस्य योगिनो वै मदात्मन: ।

न ज्ञानं न च वैराग्यं प्राय: श्रेयो भवेदिह ॥ ३१ ॥

tasmān mad-bhakti-yuktasya

yogino vai mad-ātmanaḥ

na jñānaṁ na ca vairāgyaṁ

prāyaḥ śreyo bhaved iha

Translation

Therefore, for a devotee engaged in My loving service, with mind fixed on Me, the cultivation of knowledge and renunciation is generally not the means of achieving the highest perfection 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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Depend on Devotion and Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

1
Devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is itself the supreme transcendental process. It does not depend on separate cultivation of knowledge and renunciation.
2
By chanting and hearing the Lord’s glories, a devotee automatically develops knowledge. As attachment to the Lord increases, attachment to material nature diminishes.
3
Lingering material desires are removed through devotional service in due course of time. Rather than trusting proudly in independent efforts, one should depend on Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and faithfully follow the rules of bhakti-yoga.

Key points from the purport

A surrendered devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not seek perfection through the cultivation of knowledge and renunciation outside the loving service of the Lord.
Devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, being itself the supreme transcendental process, never depends upon the secondary methods involving the cultivation of knowledge and renunciation.
Although a sincere devotee has surrendered heart and soul in loving service to the Lord, there may be lingering material attachments that prevent the devotee from perfectly realizing transcendental knowledge.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.146

This verse (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.31) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa when He was speaking to Uddhava before His departure from this material world.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

Chapter 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

For this reason the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead do not consider knowledge and renunciation to be the means for achieving the highest benefit. Only in the heart of a person who is devoid of material desire and disinterested in material things can devotional service to the Lord arise.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.20

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasmāttherefore
mat-bhakti-yuktasyaof one who is engaged in My loving service
yoginaḥof a devotee
vaicertainly
mat-ātmanaḥwhose mind is fixed in Me
nanot
jñānamthe cultivation of knowledge
nanor

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: “devotee”, “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.20
In this verse: “knowledge”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.20
In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When lingering attachments trouble me, do I trust the purifying power of devotional service?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing or chanting Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories, depending on His mercy rather than your own strength.

Live this todayDepend on Devotion and Kṛṣṇa’s MercyThis 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 11.20.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories