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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
11.20.3111.20.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.20.32-33

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

यत् कर्मभिर्यत्तपसा ज्ञानवैराग्यतश्च यत् ।

योगेन दानधर्मेण श्रेयोभिरितरैरपि ॥ ३२ ॥

सर्वं मद्भ‍‍क्तियोगेन मद्भ‍क्तो लभतेऽञ्जसा ।

स्वर्गापवर्गं मद्धाम कथञ्चिद् यदि वाञ्छति ॥ ३३ ॥

yat karmabhir yat tapasā

jñāna-vairāgyataś ca yat

yogena dāna-dharmeṇa

śreyobhir itarair api

sarvaṁ mad-bhakti-yogena

mad-bhakto labhate ’ñjasā

svargāpavargaṁ mad-dhāma

kathañcid yadi vāñchati

Translation

Everything that can be achieved by fruitive activities, penance, knowledge, detachment, mystic yoga, charity, religious duties and all other means of perfecting life is easily achieved by My devotee through loving service unto Me. If somehow or other My devotee desires promotion to heaven, liberation, or residence in My abode, he easily achieves such benedictions.

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.

Loving Service Contains All Spiritual Benefits

  1. 1

    Everything gained through fruitive activities, penance, knowledge, detachment and other auspicious processes is easily achieved through loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees desire only the Lord’s service, yet they may seek a benediction to help that service. The Lord can also easily fulfill lingering desires for heaven or freedom from bodily distress.

  3. 3

    Whatever their stage of advancement or present desires, devotees should dedicate their energy exclusively to the Lord’s service. Worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the path for all.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa here reveals the transcendental glories of devotional service to the Lord.
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, a devotee, having given up the independent cultivation of knowledge and detachment, may have firm faith in the devotional service of the Lord and yet remain slightly attached to the fruits of such activities.
  • Thus all devotees of the Lord, in whatever stage of advancement, should dedicate their energy exclusively to the Lord’s service, as affirmed in the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī:

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

The purport of SB 11.20.32-33 quotesSB 2.3.10

“A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.”

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

Further reading

Chapter 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Anyone who renders service to the Supreme Lord by constant devotional service will be able to steadily fix his mind upon the Supreme Lord, and thus all desires for sense gratification sitting within the heart will be destroyed to the root. When one directly perceives the presence of the Supreme Lord, his false ego becomes completely eradicated; all of his doubts are shattered, and heaps of material activities become diminished to nil.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatthat which is obtained
  2. karmabhiḥby fruitive activities
  3. yatthat which
  4. tapasāby penance
  5. jñānaby cultivation of knowledge
  6. vairāgyataḥby detachment
  7. caalso
  8. yatthat which is achieved
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: “devotee”, “devotees”, “worship”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “detachment”

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

Are the blessings I seek meant to support loving service, or mainly my own enjoyment?

Practice

Choose one blessing you hope for and consider how you could use it in the Lord’s service.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.3.10

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.20's connections

Live this todayLoving Service Contains All Spiritual BenefitsThis 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 11.20.32-33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.