PURPORT
PURPORT
In the Vedas there are three kandas, or divisions: karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, and upasana-kanda. The karma-kanda portion stresses the execution of fruitive activities, although ultimately it is advised that one abandon both karma-kanda and jnana-kanda (speculative knowledge) and accept only upasana-kanda, or bhakti-kanda. One cannot attain love of Godhead by executing karma-kanda or jnana-kanda. However, by dedicating one's karma, or fruitive activities, to the Supreme Lord, one may be relieved from the polluted mind. But when one is actually free from mental pollution, one must be elevated to the spiritual platform. It is then that one needs the association of a pure devotee, for only by a pure devotee's association can one become a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. When one comes to the stage of pure devotional service, the process of sravanam kirtanam is very essential. By executing the nine items of devotional service, one is completely purified. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam (B.r.s. 1.1.12). Only then is one able to execute the order of Krsna.
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man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru mam evaisyasi satyam te pratijane priyo 'si me "Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." (Bg. 18.65)
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." (Bg. 18.66)
In this way one develops his original constitutional position by which he can render loving service to the Lord. One cannot be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service by karma-kanda or jnana-kanda. Pure devotional service can be understood and attained only through the association of pure devotees. In this regard, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that there are two types of karma-kanda activities-pious and impious. Pious activities are certainly preferred to impious activities, but even pious activities cannot assure one ecstatic love of God, Krsna. Pious and impious activities can bring about material happiness or distress, but there is no possibility in one's becoming a pure devotee simply by acting piously or impiously. Bhakti, devotional service, means satisfying Krsna. In every revealed scripture-whether jnana-kanda or karma-kanda is stressed-the principle of renunciation is always praised. The ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge, Srimad-Bhagavatam, is the supreme Vedic evidence. In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said:
naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam
na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam "Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?" (Bhag. 1.5.12) This means that even knowledge, which is superior to fruitive activity, is not successful if it is devoid of devotional service. In all scriptures-in the beginning, middle and end-karma-kanda and jnana-kanda are condemned. In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said: dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra.
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