Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.9
एके कर्ममयान् यज्ञान् ज्ञानिनो यज्ञवित्तमा: ।
आत्मसंयमनेऽनीहा जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते ॥ ९ ॥
eke karmamayān yajñān
[eke karmamayaan yajnaan]
jñānino yajña-vittamāḥ
[jnaanino yajna-vittamaah]
ātma-saṁyamane ’nīhā
[aatma-samyamane ’neehaa]
juhvati jñāna-dīpite
[juhvati jnaana-deepite]
Word-for-word
eke
—
some
karma-mayān
—
resulting in a reaction (such as the killing of animals)
yajñān
—
sacrifices
jñāninaḥ
—
persons advanced in knowledge
yajña-vit-tamāḥ
—
who know perfectly well the purpose of sacrifice
ātma-saṁyamane
—
by self-control
anīhāḥ
—
who are without material desires
juhvati
—
execute sacrifice
jñāna-dīpite
—
enlightened in perfect knowledge.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
eke karmamayān yajñān
eke
some
karma-mayān
resulting in a reaction (such as the killing of animals)
yajñān
sacrifices
jñāninaḥ
persons advanced in knowledge
jñānino yajña-vittamāḥ
yajña-vit-tamāḥ
who know perfectly well the purpose of sacrifice
ātma-saṁyamane ’nīhā
ātma-saṁyamane
by self-control
anīhāḥ
who are without material desires
juhvati jñāna-dīpite
juhvati
execute sacrifice
jñāna-dīpite
enlightened in perfect knowledge.
Because of an awakening of spiritual knowledge, those who are intelligent in regard to sacrifice, who are actually aware of religious principles and who are free from material desires, control the self in the fire of spiritual knowledge, or knowledge of the Absolute Truth. They may give up the process of ritualistic ceremonies.
Purport
People are generally very much interested in karma-kāṇḍa ritualistic ceremonies for elevation to the higher planetary systems, but when one awakens his spiritual knowledge, he becomes uninterested in such elevation and engages himself fully in jñāna-yajña to find the objective of life. The objective of life is to stop completely the miseries of birth and death and to return home, back to Godhead. When one cultivates knowledge for this purpose, he is considered to be on a higher platform than one who is engaged in karma-yajña, or fruitive activities.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Some jñānīs, having no material desires and knowing the truth about sacrifice, offer prescribed karmas into the fire of the controlled mind, illuminated by knowledge.
Those on the highest level reject external actions. Those who have no material desires (anīhāḥ) offer prescribed karmas (karma-mayān yajñān) into the control of the mind, illuminated by knowledge. This means they give up performance of karmas.
Personal Guidance
Awakened spiritual knowledge directs the intelligent toward jñāna-yajña — sacrifice in the fire of knowledge — rather than karma-kāṇḍa for higher planets. Knowing why ritual exists lets you choose ritual that actually liberates.
Reflection Questions
- What rituals in your practice are aimed at material rewards rather than liberation?
- What would 'sacrifice in the fire of knowledge' look like in your daily routine?
My note
Source: vedabase.io