TEXT 40
nettham pumsam viragah syat
tvaya kevalina mrsa
manyase yady upasamam
sneha-pasa-nikrntanam
SYNONYMS
nanot; itthamin this way; pumsamof persons; viragahrenunciation; syatis possible; tvayaby you; kevalina mrsapossessing knowledge falsely; manyaseyou think; yadiif; upasamamrenunciation of material enjoyment; sneha-pasathe bonds of affection; nikrntanamcutting.
TRANSLATION
Prajapati Daksa continued: If you think that simply awakening the sense of renunciation will detach one from the material world, I must say that unless full knowledge is awakened, simply changing dresses as you have done cannot possibly bring detachment.
PURPORT
Prajapati Daksa was correct in stating that changing ones dress cannot detach one from this material world. The sannyasis of Kali-yuga who change their robes from white to saffron and then think they can do whatever they like are more abominable than materialistic grhasthas. This is not recommended anywhere. Prajapati Daksa was right in pointing out this defect, but he did not know that Narada Muni had aroused the spirit of renunciation in the Haryasvas and Savalasvas through full knowledge. Such enlightened renunciation is desirable. One should enter the renounced order with full knowledge (jnana-vairagya), for the perfection of life is possible for one who renounces this material world in that way. This elevated stage can be reached very easily, as supported by the statements of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.7):
By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world. If one seriously engages in devotional service to Lord Vasudeva, jnana and vairagya are automatically manifest in ones person. There is no doubt of this. Prajapati Daksas accusation that Narada had not actually elevated his sons to the platform of knowledge was not factual. All the sons of Prajapati Daksa had first been raised to the platform of jnana and had then automatically renounced this world. In summary, unless ones knowledge is awakened, renunciation cannot take place, for without elevated knowledge one cannot give up attachment for material enjoyment.

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