kṣā trayī naya-damau vividhā ca vārtā
īkṣā trayī naya-damau vividhā ca vārtā
manye tad etad akhilaṁ nigamasya satyaṁ
svātmārpaṇaṁ sva-suhṛdaḥ paramasya puṁsaḥ
I consider dharma, artha and kāma, knowledge of ātmā, knowledge of karma, argumentation, justice and various occupations to be part of the Vedas recommended for some people. But I consider that surrender to the Supreme Lord, who is one’s friend, is recommended in the Vedas for the saintly people.
“If dharma, artha and kāma are not the goals of human life, why have the two sons of Śukrācārya said these are prescribed in the Vedas?” Knowledge of ātmā (īkṣā), knowledge of karma (trayī), argumentation and administering justice (naya-damau), and the various occupations (vārtā)—all of these I consider to be stated in the Vedas (nigamasya). I do not criticize them, since they are approved for suitable persons. What is beneficial for the saintly (satyam) is surrender to the Supreme Lord, offering the self as the possession of the Lord. Śrīdhara Svāmī gives the following meaning. “I consider that all of these goals are factually proclaimed in the Vedas concerned with the three guṇas (nigamasya). And the Vedas beyond the guṇas proclaim surrender to the Lord. The Lord says traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna: O Arjuna, the Vedas deal with the three guṇas, but be transcendental to the three guṇas. (BG 2. 45)”
|| 7.6.27 ||
jñānaṁ tad etad amalaṁ duravāpam āha
nārāyaṇo nara-sakhaḥ kila nāradāya
ekāntināṁ bhagavatas tad akiñcanānāṁ
pādāravinda-rajasāpluta-dehināṁ syāt
Nārāyaṇa, the well-wisher and friend of all living entities, formerly explained this pure knowledge, difficult to understand, to Nārada. This knowledge can be understood by any full dedicated devotees with no material desire, who bath their bodies in the dust from the Lord’s lotus feet.
To give the boys faith, Prahlāda explains the guru sampradāya. “If Nārada is the hearer, what hopes do low persons like us have to understand this?” All those who bathe in the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet, who are dedicated devotees, can understand this, not just the most exalted devotees.
|| 7.6.28 ||
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