SB 1.2.7 (1962)

SB (1962) Second Chapter - Divinity and Devotional Service

SB 1.2.6 (1962) - SB 1.2.8 (1962)

Compare Versions: SB 1962 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT No. 7

Vasudeve bhagwati bhaktiyogah prayojitah Janayati asu vairagyam jnanancha yat ahaitukam

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Vasudeve—unto Krishna, bhagwati—unto the Personality of Godhead, bhakiyogah—contact of devotional service, janayati—does produce, asu—very soon, vairagya—detachment, jnanam—knowledge, cha—and, yat—that which, ahaitukam—causeless.

TRANSLATION

By the process of applying devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead Shri Krishna, the immediate result is that causeless knowledge and detachment follow.

PURPORT

Those who consider devotional service of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna, as something like material emotional affairs may argue that in the revealed scriptures, sacrifice, charity, austerity, knowledge, mystic powers and similar other processes of transcendental realisations are recommended. And according to them Bhakti or devotional service of the Lord, is meant for those who cannot perform the high grade activities. Generally it is spoken that the Bhakti cult is meant for the Sudras, Vaishya and the less intelligent women class. But that is not the actual fact. Bhakti cult is the topmost of all other transcendental activities and therfore it is both sublime and easy at the same time. It is sublime for the pure devotees who are serious about getting in contact with the Supreme Lord and easy for the neophytes who are just on the threshold of the house of Bhakti cult. It is a great science to achieve the contact of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Shri Krishna and it is open for all living beings including the Sudras, Vaishyas, Women or even lower than the Sudras who are called low born, and what to speak of the higher class men like the qualified Brahmins and the great self realised Kings? The other high grade activities designated as sacrifice, charity, austerity etc. all are corollary factors following the pure and scientific Bhakti cult.

The principles of knowledge and detachment are two important factors on the path of transcendental realisation. The whole spiritual process is meant for having perfect knowledge of everything material and spiritual and the effect of such perfect knowledge is that one gets consequently detachment from material affection and attachment for spiritual activities. Detachment for material things does not mean to become inert altogether as it is considered by men with poor fund of knowledge. Naiskarma means not to undertake such activities which will produce good or bad effects. Negation does not mean negation of the positivity. Negation of the non-essentials does not mean negation of the essential. Similarly detachment from material forms does not mean nullifying the positive forms. The Bhakti cult is meant for realisation of the positive form. When the positive form is realised the negative forms are automatically eliminated. Therefore, with the development of Bhakti cult i.e. with the application of the positive service to the positive form one gets naturally detached from the negative forms as one gets detached from inferior quality of things after achievement of superior quality of things. Similarly the Bhakti cult being the supermost occupation of the living being the latter certainly gets retired from inferior occupation of material sense enjoyment. That is the sign of a pure devotee. He is neither fool nor engaged in the inferior energies of material values. How this happens cannot be ascertained by dry reasoning but it actually happens by the Grace of the Almighty. The conclusion is that one who is a pure devotee has all the other good qualities namely knowledge, detachment etc. but one who has only knowledge of detachment may not be well acquainted with the principles of the Bhakti cult which is the supermost occupation of the human being.

(Compare SB 1.2.7 Current Edition)

SB 1.2.6 (1962) - SB 1.2.8 (1962)