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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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 8 · Chapter 3: Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender
8.3.268.3.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.3.27

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The King of the elephants, Gajendrasince 8.3.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

योगरन्धितकर्माणो हृदि योगविभाविते ।

योगिनो यं प्रपश्यन्ति योगेशं तं नतोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ २७ ॥

yoga-randhita-karmāṇo

hṛdi yoga-vibhāvite

yogino yaṁ prapaśyanti

yogeśaṁ taṁ nato ’smy aham

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, the Supersoul, the master of all mystic yoga, who is seen in the core of the heart by perfect mystics when they are completely purified and freed from the reactions of fruitive activity by practicing bhakti-yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhakti-yoga Purifies the Heart

  1. 1

    Fruitive activities leave dirt within the heart that must be washed away by practicing bhakti-yoga. Ignorance and passion prevent one from understanding the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    Actual yoga frees one from lust and greed rather than encouraging them. A true yogī always meditates on the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees see Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa Himself, within their hearts with eyes of devotion and love. Gajendra humbly considered himself unfit to see the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • People are therefore very much fond of so-called yoga practice.
  • In his humility, he thought that he could not practice yoga.
  • This is the greatest anomaly in the practice of mystic yoga.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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 8.3.27 quotesSB 12.13.1

As authoritatively stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.13.1), dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ: a yogī is one who always meditates on the lotus feet of the Supreme 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

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

“The self-effulgent material form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is adored by nondevotees, His impersonal form is adored by those advanced in spiritual knowledge, and His feature as the localized Supersoul is appreciated by yogīs. But His original form as a person is understood only by devotees.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yoga-randhita-karmāṇaḥpersons whose reactions to fruitive activities have been burnt up by bhakti-yoga
  2. hṛdiwithin the core of the heart
  3. yoga-vibhāvitecompletely purified and clean
  4. yoginaḥmystics who are competent
  5. yamunto the Personality of Godhead who
  6. prapaśyantidirectly see
  7. yoga-īśamunto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all mystic yoga
  8. tamunto Him
  9. nataḥ asmioffering obeisances
  10. ahamI
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 8.3

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”, “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “purified”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “lust”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I approaching devotional practice to purify my desires or to increase my enjoyment?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute meditating on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and asking for freedom from lust and greed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 12.13.1

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.3's connections

Live this todayBhakti-yoga Purifies the HeartThis 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 8.3.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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