Part Two -
Abhidheya-tattva-nirupana - Description of the Means of Spiritual Attainment
Chapter One - Abhidheya-nirnaya-prakarana - Determination of What Is the Means of Spiritual Attainment
Sutra 53
yatra dharmaya karma viragaya dharmas cid-rasaya viragas tatra gauna-rupena
karmaivabhidheyam
yatra-where; dharmaya-for piety; karma-work; viragaya-for renunciation; dharmahpiety; cid-rasaya-for the nectar of spiritual bliss; viragah-renunciation; tatra-there;
gauna-rupena-indirect; karma-work; eva-indeed; abhidheyam-to be named.
When fruitive work is performed to gain piety, piety is employed to foster renunciation, and renunciation is employed to gain the nectar of spiritual bliss, then fruitive work can be a secondary tool for attaining success in spiritual life.
Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
In the Isa Upanishad (15) it is said:
hiranmayena patrena
satyasyapihitam mukham
tat tvam pushann apavrinu
satya-dharmaya drishtaye
"O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling
effulgence. Please remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee."*
In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said:
na yasya karma dharmaya
na viragaya kalpate
na tirtha-pada-sevayai
jivann api mrito 'pi sah
"One who does not perform pious deeds, who is not inclined to renunciation, and
who does not travel to holy places of pilgrimage, is already dead, even though he
seems to live."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.34) it is said:
evam nrinam kriya-yogah
sarve samsriti-hetavah
ata evatma-nasaya
kalpante kalpitah pare
"Thus when all a man's activities are dedicated to the service of the Lord, those very
activities which caused his perpetual bondage become the destroyer of the tree of
work."*
Srila Ramanujacarya explains:
upaya-buddhya karmani
ma kurudhvam mahatmakah
karmanam eva kainkarye
prapte bhagavatah matih
"O great souls, please do not think that fruitive work is the primary way to attain
spiritual advancement. Fruitive work is only a servant to the real way. That is the
opinion of the Supreme Lord Himself."
Sutra 54
yatra cid-rasaya jnanam tatra gauna-rupena janam abhidheyam
yatra-where; cid-rasaya-for spiritual bliss; janam-knowledge; tatra-there; gaunarupena-as secondary; janam-knowledge; abhidheyam-to be named.
When it is employed in the proper way to attain the nectar of spiritual bliss, the path of knowledge can a be secondary tool to attain spiritual realization.
Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad it is said:
tam eva dhiro vijnaya
prajnam kurvita brahmanah
"A brahmana should employ his intelligence to understand the Supreme."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.5), Lord Krishna explains:
tasmaj jnanena sahitam
jnatva svatmanam uddhava
jnana-vijnana-sampanno
bhaja mam bhakti-bhavatah
"Therefore, My dear Uddhava, through knowledge you should understand your actual
self. Then, advancing by clear realization of Vedic knowledge, you should worship me
in the mood of loving devotion."***
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 24.109 and 113) it is said:
bhakti vina kevala jnane mukti nahi haya
bhakti-sadhana kare ye prapti brahma laya
"One cannot attain liberation simply through philosophical speculation devotion of
devotional service. However, if one renders devotional service, he is automatically on
the Brahman platform."*
janma haite suka-sanakadi brahmamaya
krishna-gunakrishta haye krishnera bhajaya
"Although Sukadeva Gosvami and the four Kumaras were always absorbed in the
thought of impersonal Brahman and were thus Brahmavadis, they were nonetheless
attracted by the transcendental pastimes and qualities of Krishna. Therefore they later
became devotees of Krishna."*
