FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.28.18

ज्ञानं विवेको निगमस्तपश्च प्रत्यक्षमैतिह्यमथानुमानम् । आद्यन्तयोरस्य यदेव केवलं कालश्च हेतुश्च तदेव मध्ये ॥ १८ ॥
jñānaṁ viveko nigamas tapaś ca
[jnaanam viveko nigamas tapash cha]
pratyakṣam aitihyam athānumānam
[pratyaksham aitihyam athaanumaanam]
ādy-antayor asya yad eva kevalaṁ
[aady-antayor asya yad eva kevalam]
kālaś ca hetuś ca tad eva madhye
[kaalash cha hetush cha tad eva madhye]
Word-for-word
jñānam — transcendental knowledge vivekaḥ — discrimination nigamaḥ — the scripture tapaḥ — austerity ca — and pratyakṣam — direct perception aitihyam — the historical accounts of the Purāṇas atha — and anumānam — logic ādi — in the beginning antayoḥ — and the end asya — of this creation yat — which eva — indeed kevalam — alone kālaḥ — the controlling factor of time ca — and hetuḥ — the ultimate cause ca — and tat — that eva — alone madhye — in the middle.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jñānaṁ viveko nigamas tapaś ca
jñānam
transcendental knowledge
vivekaḥ
discrimination
nigamaḥ
the scripture
tapaḥ
austerity
ca
and
pratyakṣam aitihyam athānumānam
pratyakṣam
direct perception
aitihyam
the historical accounts of the Purāṇas
atha
and
anumānam
logic
ādy-antayor asya yad eva kevalaṁ
ādi
in the beginning
antayoḥ
and the end
asya
of this creation
yat
which
eva
indeed
kevalam
alone
kālaś ca hetuś ca tad eva madhye
kālaḥ
the controlling factor of time
ca
and
hetuḥ
the ultimate cause
ca
and
tat
that
eva
alone
madhye
in the middle.
Real spiritual knowledge is based on the discrimination of spirit from matter, and it is cultivated by scriptural evidence, austerity, direct perception, reception of the Purāṇas’ historical narrations, and logical inference. The Absolute Truth, which alone was present before the creation of the universe and which alone will remain after its destruction, is also the time factor and the ultimate cause. Even in the middle stage of this creation’s existence, the Absolute Truth alone is the actual reality.
Purport

Material scientists and philosophers are desperately searching for the ultimate material cause or principle, which is described here as kāla, the time factor. The material process of cause and effect takes place entirely within a sequence of time; in other words, the time factor is the motivating impetus for material cause and effect. This time factor is a manifestation of the Supersoul, the form of the Supreme Lord that pervades and supports the cosmic manifestation. The method for acquiring knowledge is scientifically described here, and those who are serious, reasonable scholars will take advantage of the transcendental epistemology revealed here by the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Jñāna gives power of discrimination. It is produced by knowledge of the Vedas, by following one’s dharma, by personal realization, by instructions and by logical analysis. By this one realizes Brahman, the final cause, which reveals everything and which exists at the beginning and end of the universe, and during the interim as well. Jñāna is discrimination. The factors in cultivation of jñāna are described: the Vedas, following one’s dharma (tapaḥ), one’s realization (pratyakṣam), instructions (aitihyam), and reasoning (anumānam). The result is described. That which exists at the beginning and at the end of the universe and in the middle as well, is the cause, Brahman (kālaḥ), which reveals (kalayati) everything
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Real spiritual knowledge discriminates spirit from matter; cultivated by scripture, austerity, perception, Purāṇic narrations, logical inference. The Absolute is the One reality.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I underusing one of these five tools?
  • Which tool would add most for me this season?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 28