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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 28: Jñāna-yoga
11.28.4211.28.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.28.43

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.28.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

योगं निषेवतो नित्यं कायश्चेत् कल्पतामियात् ।

तच्छ्रद्दध्यान्न मतिमान्योगमुत्सृज्य मत्पर: ॥ ४३ ॥

yogaṁ niṣevato nityaṁ

kāyaś cet kalpatām iyāt

tac chraddadhyān na matimān

yogam utsṛjya mat-paraḥ

Translation

Although the physical body may be improved by various processes of yoga, an intelligent person who has dedicated his life to Me does not place his faith in the prospect of perfecting his physical body through yoga, and in fact he gives up such procedures.

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.

Care for the Body Without Absorption

  1. 1

    An intelligent devotee dedicated to Kṛṣṇa does not place faith in perfecting the physical body through yoga. Such a devotee gives up procedures aimed at that perfection.

  2. 2

    A devotee keeps the body fit through nourishing Kṛṣṇa prasādam, a clean and regulated life free from unnecessary anxiety, and chanting and dancing before the Lord’s Deity.

  3. 3

    When sick, a devotee accepts normal medical treatment. Beyond such care, there is no need to absorb the mind in the body through so-called yoga practice; ultimately, one accepts the destiny ordained by the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee of the Lord keeps his body fit by eating nourishing Kṛṣṇa prasādam, by maintaining a clean and regulated life, free from unnecessary anxiety, and by chanting and dancing before the Deity of the Lord.
  • When a devotee is sick, he accepts medical treatment by normal methods, but beyond this there is no need to absorb one’s mind in the physical body in the name of so-called yoga practice.
  • Ultimately one must accept the destiny that has been ordained by the Lord.

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

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 28: Jñāna-yoga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

An intelligent person is therefore uninterested in this kind of process. Rather, by taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, an aspiring devotee who is seriously dedicated to the Lord rids himself of all disturbances and becomes empowered to attain the highest perfection, the full bliss of spiritual life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yogamthe practice of yoga
  2. niṣevataḥof one executing
  3. nityamregularly
  4. kāyaḥthe material body
  5. ceteven if
  6. kalpatāmfitness
  7. iyātattains
  8. tatin that
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 11.28

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “free from”

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 caring for my body in a balanced way, or placing my faith in making it perfect?

Practice

Eat nourishing Kṛṣṇa prasādam today as a simple way to care for your body while remaining dedicated to Him.

Live this todayCare for the Body Without AbsorptionThis 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 11.28.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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