FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.29.33

ज्ञाने कर्मणि योगे च वार्तायां दण्डधारणे । यावानर्थो नृणां तात तावांस्तेऽहं चतुर्विध: ॥ ३३ ॥
jñāne karmaṇi yoge ca
[jnaane karmani yoge cha]
vārtāyāṁ daṇḍa-dhāraṇe
[vaartaayaam danda-dhaarane]
yāvān artho nṛṇāṁ tāta
[yaavaan artho nrinaam taata]
tāvāṁs te ’haṁ catur-vidhaḥ
[taavaams te ’ham chatur-vidhah]
jñāne — in the process of knowledge karmaṇi — in fruitive work yoge — in mystic yoga ca — and vārtāyām — in ordinary business daṇḍa-dhāraṇe — in political rule yāvān — whatever arthaḥ — accomplishment nṛṇām — of men tāta — My dear Uddhava tāvān — that much te — to you aham — I catuḥ-vidhaḥ — fourfold (i.e., the fourfold goals of human life: religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jñāne karmaṇi yoge ca
jñāne
in the process of knowledge
karmaṇi
in fruitive work
yoge
in mystic yoga
ca
and
vārtāyāṁ daṇḍa-dhāraṇe
vārtāyām
in ordinary business
daṇḍa-dhāraṇe
in political rule
yāvān artho nṛṇāṁ tāta
yāvān
whatever
arthaḥ
accomplishment
nṛṇām
of men
tāta
My dear Uddhava
tāvāṁs te ’haṁ catur-vidhaḥ
tāvān
that much
te
to you
aham
I
catuḥ-vidhaḥ
fourfold (i.e., the fourfold goals of human life: religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation).
Through analytic knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, mundane business and political rule, people seek to advance in religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But because you are My devotee, whatever men can accomplish in these multifarious ways you will very easily find within Me.

Lord Kṛṣṇa is the basis of all that exists, and one who takes exclusive shelter of the Lord never suffers any loss whatsoever for his intelligent decision to surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Through analytical knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, mundane business and politics, people seek to advance in religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. Whatever men can accomplish in these multifarious ways I give to my devotee. “If some devotee becomes attracted to the results of jñāna or karma, then he should practice those methods.” The Lord answers, addressing Uddhava, but meaning people in general. Whatever of the four goals men seek by jñāna, karma, yoga or other means I give all of those results to my devotee (tāvāṁs te aham). What is the need for my devotee to practice these other methods? Jñāna gives mokṣa. Karma gives dharma. Yoga gives kāma. Professions like farming and governing give artha. It is said: yā vai sādhana-sampattiḥ puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaye | tayā vinā tad āpnoti naro nārāyaṇāśrayaḥ || The devotee attains the results of all methods practiced for attaining the four goals of life. Mahābhārata
By analytic knowledge, ritual, yoga, business, politics, people seek dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa; because Uddhava is His devotee, whatever men can accomplish in these pursuits the Lord will grant him. Devotion contains the fruits of all paths.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I still chasing accomplishments through other paths as if they didn't fit in devotion?
  • How does this change my plan?
📝 My note

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