FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.7

निर्विण्णानां ज्ञानयोगो न्यासिनामिह कर्मसु । तेष्वनिर्विण्णचित्तानां कर्मयोगस्तु कामिनाम् ॥ ७ ॥
nirviṇṇānāṁ jñāna-yogo
[nirvinnaanaam jnaana-yogo]
nyāsinām iha karmasu
[nyaasinaam iha karmasu]
teṣv anirviṇṇa-cittānāṁ
[teshv anirvinna-chittaanaam]
karma-yogas tu kāminām
[karma-yogas tu kaaminaam]
nirviṇṇānām — for those who are disgusted jñāna-yogaḥ — the path of philosophical speculation nyāsinām — for those who are renounced iha — among these three paths karmasu — in ordinary material activities teṣu — in those activities anirviṇṇa — not disgusted cittānām — for those who have consciousness karma-yogaḥ — the path of karma-yoga tu — indeed kāminām — for those who still desire material happiness.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nirviṇṇānāṁ jñāna-yogo
nirviṇṇānām
for those who are disgusted
jñāna-yogaḥ
the path of philosophical speculation
nyāsinām iha karmasu
nyāsinām
for those who are renounced
iha
among these three paths
karmasu
in ordinary material activities
teṣv anirviṇṇa-cittānāṁ
teṣu
in those activities
anirviṇṇa
not disgusted
cittānām
for those who have consciousness
karma-yogas tu kāminām
karma-yogaḥ
the path of karma-yoga
tu
indeed
kāminām
for those who still desire material happiness.
Among these three paths, jñāna-yoga, the path of philosophical speculation, is recommended for those who are disgusted with material life and are thus detached from ordinary, fruitive activities. Those who are not disgusted with material life, having many desires yet to fulfill, should seek perfection through the path of karma-yoga.

In this verse the Lord reveals the different propensities that lead human beings to adopt different processes of perfection. Those who are frustrated in the ordinary material life of society, friendship and love, and who understand that promotion to heaven simply brings further domestic miseries, take directly to the path of knowledge. Through authorized philosophical discrimination they transcend the bonds of material existence. Those who are still desirous of enjoying material society, friendship and love, and who are excited by the prospect of going with their relatives to material heavenly planets, cannot take directly to the path of rigorous philosophical advancement, which requires great austerity. Such persons are advised to remain in family life and offer the fruits of their work to the Supreme. In this way, they also can become perfect and gradually learn detachment from material life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Jñāna-yoga is recommended for those who are unattached to material life and thus reject material activities. Karma-yoga is recommended for those who are not disgusted with material life and have great attachment to pleasures. Who is qualified for what? Two verses answer. Jñāna is for persons who are unattached to house and family and therefore renounce material actions of household life. Karma is for those who are not detached from material action because they are extremely attached to enjoying their body, house, and wife.
Jñāna-yoga is for those disgusted with material life; karma-yoga is for those not disgusted, with desires to fulfill. The Lord assigns paths by inner condition.
Reflection Questions
  • Honestly, am I disgusted with material life or still hopeful about it?
  • Which path matches that honest answer?
📝 My note

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