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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 24: The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya
11.24.1311.24.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.14

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.24.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

योगस्य तपसश्चैव न्यासस्य गतयोऽमलाः ।

महर्जनस्तपः सत्यं भक्तियोगस्य मद्गतिः ॥ १४ ॥

yogasya tapasaś caiva

nyāsasya gatayo ’malāḥ

mahar janas tapaḥ satyaṁ

bhakti-yogasya mad-gatiḥ

Translation

By mystic yoga, great austerities and the renounced order of life, the pure destinations of Maharloka, Janoloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka are attained. But by devotional yoga, one achieves My transcendental abode.

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.

Devotional Service Leads to the Lord’s Abode

  1. 1

    Mystic yoga, austerities and renunciation lead to Maharloka, Janoloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka. These destinations depend on one’s seriousness in spiritual discipline.

  2. 2

    Devotional yoga leads to the Lord’s transcendental abode. Its inhabitants are completely satisfied in love of Godhead and think only of the Lord’s pleasure.

  3. 3

    Because they have no desire for personal satisfaction, there is no cheating, anxiety, lust or disappointment there. Complete surrender to the Lord brings transcendental peace and His eternal abode by His grace.

Key points from the purport
  • A brahmacārī who practices celibacy perfectly in some particular stage of his life achieves Maharloka, and one who perfectly practices lifelong celibacy achieves Janoloka.
  • By perfect execution of vānaprastha one may achieve Tapoloka, and one in the renounced order of life goes to Satyaloka.
  • By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.”

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· 2

The purport of SB 11.24.14 quotesSB 3.15.20

Although crowded by their consorts, who have large hips and beautiful smiling faces, they cannot be stimulated to passion by their mirth and beautiful charms.”

The purport of SB 11.24.14 quotesBG 18.62

As described in Bhagavad-gītā (18.62): “O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him utterly.

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

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The destinations of yoga, severe austerity and the renounced order of life are the worlds known as Mahar, Janas, Tapas and Satya. The goal of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, on the other hand, is the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead in His abode, Vaikuṇṭha.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yogasyaof mystic yoga
  2. tapasaḥof great austerity
  3. caand
  4. evacertainly
  5. nyāsasyaof the renounced order of life
  6. gatayaḥthe destinations
  7. amalāḥspotless
  8. mahaḥMahar
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 11.24

    In this verse: “devotional”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “renounced”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “surrender”

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

In my devotional service, am I thinking more about my satisfaction or the Lord’s pleasure?

Practice

Perform one small act of devotional service today with the conscious intention of pleasing the Lord.

5

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 3.15.20

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.24's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Leads to the Lord’s AbodeThis 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 11.24.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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