FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.24.17

ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगेन कर्मणामुद्धरन् जटा: । हिरण्यकेश: पद्माक्ष: पद्ममुद्रापदाम्बुज: ॥ १७ ॥
jñāna-vijñāna-yogena
[jnaana-vijnaana-yogena]
karmaṇām uddharan jaṭāḥ
[karmanaam uddharan jataah]
hiraṇya-keśaḥ padmākṣaḥ
[hiranya-keshah padmaakshah]
padma-mudrā-padāmbujaḥ
[padma-mudraa-padaambujah]
jñāna — of scriptural knowledge vijñāna — and application yogena — by means of mystic yoga karmaṇām — of material actions uddharan — uprooting jaṭāḥ — the roots hiraṇya-keśaḥ — golden hair padma-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed padma-mudrā — marked with the sign of the lotus pada-ambujaḥ — having lotus feet.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jñāna-vijñāna-yogena
jñāna
of scriptural knowledge
vijñāna
and application
yogena
by means of mystic yoga
karmaṇām uddharan jaṭāḥ
karmaṇām
of material actions
uddharan
uprooting
jaṭāḥ
the roots
hiraṇya-keśaḥ padmākṣaḥ
hiraṇya-keśaḥ
golden hair
padma-akṣaḥ
lotus-eyed
padma-mudrā-padāmbujaḥ
padma-mudrā
marked with the sign of the lotus
pada-ambujaḥ
having lotus feet.
By mystic yoga and the practical application of knowledge from the scriptures, Kapila Muni, who is characterized by His golden hair, His eyes just like lotus petals and His lotus feet, which bear the marks of lotus flowers, will uproot the deep-rooted desire for work in this material world.

In this verse the activities and bodily features of Kapila Muni are very nicely described. The activities of Kapila Muni are forecast herein: He will present the philosophy of Sāṅkhya in such a way that by studying His philosophy people will be able to uproot the deep-rooted desire for karma, fruitive activities. Everyone in this material world engages in achieving the fruits of his labor. A man tries to be happy by achieving the fruits of his own honest labor, but actually he becomes more and more entangled. One cannot get out of this entanglement unless he has perfect knowledge, or devotional service.

Those who are trying to get out of the entanglement by speculation are also doing their best, but in the Vedic scriptures we find that if one has taken to the devotional service of the Lord in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can very easily uproot the deep-rooted desire for fruitive activities. Sāṅkhya philosophy will be broadcast by Kapila Muni for that purpose. His bodily features are also described herein. Jñāna does not refer to ordinary research work. Jñāna entails receiving knowledge from the scriptures through the spiritual master by disciplic succession. In the modern age there is a tendency to do research by mental speculation and concoction. But the man who speculates forgets that he himself is subject to the four defects of nature: he is sure to commit mistakes, his senses are imperfect, he is sure to fall into illusion, and he is cheating. Unless one has perfect knowledge from disciplic succession, he simply puts forth some theories of his own creation; therefore he is cheating people. Jñāna means knowledge received through disciplic succession from the scriptures, and vijñāna means practical application of such knowledge. Kapila Muni’s Sāṅkhya system of philosophy is based on jñāna and vijñāna.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O daughter of Manu! In order to uproot karma by the methods of jñāna and vijñāna, with golden hair, lotus eyes, lotus feet marked with the lotus, this Lord, killer of the demon Kaitabha, entering your womb, will travel over the world, cutting the knot of ignorance and false knowledge. Brahmā speaks to Devahūti. Jñanam means knowledge of God without form, and vijñānam means knowledge of God with form. By these methods he will travel the earth to uproot (uddharan) the roots or vāsanā of karma. He will cut the knot in the heart made of ignorance concerning one’s svarūpa (avidyā) and false knowledge (samśaya).
The teacher in this verse is not just a source of information but an entry point into a lineage. Truth received through hands that received it can be trusted. Its centre of gravity is spiritual master.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you tried to learn devotion without a living human guide?
  • Whose lineage do you stand inside, even quietly, and how does that shape what you hear?
📝 My note

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