rule



 

Canto 3

Vāńchā Kalpa

 

 

Chapter 32: The Entanglement in Fruitive Activities

(1) Kapila said: 'Well then, the person living at home doing the duties of a householder, enjoys again and again [the benefit] of sense gratification, economic gain and religious activities. (2) Moreover, he, in his faithful worship of the gods and the forefathers with sacrificial ceremonies [called pravritti-dharma], infatuated by lust has turned his face away from emancipating in devotional service to the Supreme Lord [for the sake of what one calls nivritti-dharma]. (3) Overcome by a mind of belief being vowed to those forefathers and demigods, the person, who by drinking soma [a beverage drunk by the sacrificing brahmins] thus was of respect for the lunar order [of his sacrifices], will turn back [to this world] after having deceased [see also B.G. 8: 25]. (4) When Lord Hari lies Himself down on the snake bed of Ananta S'esha, these worlds of the attached householders find their dissolution. (5) Those intelligent souls [though] who, in the performance of their personal duties, did not take advantage for the sake of sense gratification and material benefits, but rather free from material attachment gave up their fruitive activities, will find the perfection of peace because their consciousness was purified. (6) When they all the time [in nivritti-dharma] righteously are engaged for the sake of the detachment of forsaking egoism and claims of property, they, with the performance of their personal duties, are completely purified by the goodness of such a mentality. (7) By following the path of enlightenment they approach the Original Person, the cause of the manifestation and dissolution of the world, who is reflected in each his face as the Controller of the spiritual and material worlds. (8) Until the end of a period as long as two parārdhas, in which the life of Brahmā himself finds its conclusion [see 3.11], they dwell in the transcendental world immersed in thoughts about the Supreme One. (9) After having experienced for the time of two parārdhas the natural self [of creation] consisting of the three modes, the Lord of the Beyond [Brahmā], desiring to dissolve the material covering composed of earth, water, fire, ether, mind, senses, objects, ego and so on, enters the unmanifested primal state. (10) Those yogis who went all the way to become detached by controlling their breath and mind and thus entered Lord Brahmā who cannot be attained with false self conceptions, next together with him go to the Original Person, the embodiment of bliss who is the oldest, primary reality of the spirit. (11) Dear mother, therefore by means of devotional service take to the shelter of Him, the Lord you now heard about, who resides in the lotus heart of each. (12-15) [But remember that] even Brahmā, the Creator of the mobile and immobile manifestations who is the source of Vedic wisdom, as also the sages and the masters of yoga, the Kumāras and the other perfected souls and original thinkers of yoga who attained the original Person of the Absolute Truth, the first among all the souls, by dint of their detached, egoless actions, despite their independent vision and all their spiritual qualities, again take birth to assume their positions when this manifestation of the Lord is recreated through the operation of time and the three modes. And that is also true for all others who enjoyed the divine opulence that resulted from their pious deeds, they also return when the interaction of the modes again takes place.

(16) They whose minds in this world are addicted to fruitive activities, engage with conviction in their prescribed duties in attachment to the result of their labor and do that time and again. (17) Fully engaged in their households they worship their forefathers while they, being driven by passion, have minds that - aspiring for gratification - are full of anxieties with their senses out of control. (18) [Trai-vargika] persons dedicated to the three civil virtues [of economy, sense gratification and religious service] are not interested in the pastimes of Lord Hari, the killer of the demon Madhu, whose exceptional prowess is so worthy of being described. (19) Having given up on the nectar of the stories about the Infallible One, they, struck by fate, rather listen to materialistic stories, and in that respect they are just like stool eating hogs.

(20) When the sun goes through the south, they, after their cremation, go to their forefathers, to again take birth in their families for the performance of fruitive activities to the [bitter] end [compare B.G. 8: 25]. (21) By divine arrangement they directly fall down from their elevated position to return to this planet, when they have exhausted the merit of their pious deeds, oh virtuous one [compare B.G. 9: 21].

(22) Worship therefore with all your heart the Supreme Lord, your refuge, by the worshipable feet of whom your devotional service is associated with the good qualities. (23) Engaging in devotional service unto Vāsudeva the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will very soon result in the detachment and spiritual knowledge that lead to self-realization. (24) When the mind of the devotee in every circumstance is equipoised relative to the activity of the senses, he makes no distinction between like and dislike as a consequence. (25) He is then, because of the detached mindfulness of his soul, in freedom from sympathy and antipathy, of an equal vision and sees himself elevated to the transcendental position. (26) Even though the Supreme Personality constitutes the unique completeness of transcendental knowledge, He in philosophical research and other processes of understanding is differently perceived as the Spirit of the Absolute [Brahman], the Supersoul [Paramātmā] and the Lord personally present [Bhagavān, see also S.B. 1.2: 11]. (27) The only purpose for a yogi to realize in this world is to achieve, by the practice of yoga, complete detachment from everything. (28) For someone averse to the knowledge of spirituality, the pure spirit of the absolute, Brahman, which is free from the [interacting] modes, appears as a relativity of forms that can be perceived through the senses and is misconceived as being endowed with sounds and so on. (29) [But] just as from the mahat-tattva with the three modes and the five elements, the material body of the living entity was formed with its individual consciousness, eleven senses [the five senses of action and perception, including the mind] and false ego, also the universe was formed out of the cosmic egg of all universes [and may thus be concluded that no essential difference exists between the local covering of the individual soul and the gigantic universal covering of the Supersoul; or briefly stated, that the universe must be seen as a person]. (30) With faith and devotion ever being steadfast in yoga, he understands this whose mind is fixed in the detachment of disassociating oneself from material involvement.

(31) Thus, My respectful mother, I have described this spiritual knowledge that reveals the perspective of the Pure Spirit by which both the material and personal reality [prakriti and purusha] is understood. (32) Rather than by each of them alone, by means of both jńāna-yoga [the yoga of spiritual knowledge] and the freedom from the modes of being directed towards Me that is called bhakti, the purpose is achieved that is denoted by the word Bhagavān. (33) One and the same object having many qualities is differently perceived by the senses, similarly the one and only Lord of All Fortune is seen differently depending the different paths described in the scriptures. (34-36) By material actions, sacrificial ceremonies, charity, austerities, study of the scriptures, philosophical research, subduing the mind and senses, as also by renunciation and forsaking profit-minded labor, practicing the different types of yoga, performing devotional service and fulfilling one's individual duties - in case of both an active life and a contemplative life [pravritti and nivritti dharma] -, one will, with consequent detachment and knowledge of the science of self-realization, perceive the Supreme Lord in His true nature: as being present in both the material world and in transcendence [saguna and nirguna]. (37) I explained to you the four divisions of identity [svarūpa] in devotional service [three according to the modes and one for their transcendence*], as also the imperceptible action of time [the conditioning] that drives the living entities. (38) For the living entity, My dear mother, there are many ways of engaging materially in ignorance [about one's original identity]. They are all the result of working for a material outcome [karma], and he who gets entangled in it has therefore lost his way.

(39) This what I said is not meant for instructing the evil-minded and the ones of bad conduct, nor to be told to obstinate and offensive people or to anyone who only in name does his duty. (40) One must not tell this to greedy persons and neither to someone attached to hearth and home, nor to those who are not devoted to Me or detest My devotees. (41) It is meant for the faithful souls, for devotees, respectful people, for those not spiteful towards anyone, those who are friendly and eager to render their services conscientiously. (42) Tell this to those who with a peaceful mind developed detachment for what is outside of them, to those who are not envious, who are clean and to whom I am the dearest of the dear. (43) Oh mother, he who but once with faith heard about this or repeats this for himself in being fixed on Me [doing japa], will certainly attain My heaven.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded March 5, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Kapila said: 'Well then, the person living at home doing the duties of a householder, enjoys again and again the advantages of sense gratification, economic benefits and religious activities.
Kapila said: 'The person now, factually living at home doing the duties of a householder, enjoys again and again the advantages of sense gratification, economic benefits and religious performances. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

Moreover, he, in his faithful worship of the gods and the forefathers with sacrificial ceremonies [called pravritti-dharma], infatuated by lust has turned his face away from emancipating in devotional service to the Supreme Lord [for the sake of what one calls nivritti-dharma].

Moreover has he, infatuated by lust, turned away from devotional service to the Supreme Lord [called nivritti-dharma] in his faithfully worshiping the gods and the forefathers with ceremonies of sacrifice [called pravritti-dharma]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 3

Overcome by a mind of belief being vowed to those forefathers and demigods, the person, who by drinking soma [a beverage drunk by the sacrificing brahmins] thus was of respect for the lunar order [of his sacrifices], will turn back [to this world] after having deceased [see also B.G. 8: 25].

Overcome by a mind of belief vowed to those forefathers and demigods, will the person thus being gone again return back to the world of the lunar order by drinking the soma [beverage drunk by the brahmin of sacrifice]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

When Lord Hari lies Himself down on the snake bed of Ananta S'esha, these worlds of the attached householders find their dissolution.

When Lord Hari lies Himself down on the snakebed of Ananta S'esha, do those very worlds of the ones attached to their household find their dissolution. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

Those intelligent souls [though] who, in the performance of their personal duties, did not take advantage for the sake of sense gratification and material benefits, but rather free from material attachment gave up their fruitive activities, will find the perfection of peace because their consciousness was purified.

Those intelligent who to their own duties did not take advantage for the sake of sense-gratification and material benefits and who, free from material attachment, gave up on their fruitive activities, will of a purified consciousness find satisfaction. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

When they all the time [in nivritti-dharma] righteously are engaged for the sake of the detachment of forsaking egoism and claims of property, they, with the performance of their personal duties, are completely purified by the goodness of such a mentality.

In the constant engagement in the [nivritti-dharma] religious acts for detachment in giving up claims of property and egoism is one by the goodness and consciousness of acting according one's own duty completely purified. (Vedabase)


Text 7

By following the path of enlightenment they approach the Original Person, the cause of the manifestation and dissolution of the world, who is reflected in each his face as the Controller of the spiritual and material worlds.

Following the path of enlightenment they approach the Original Personality of God reflected in the faces of all, who rules over the spirit as well as the matter and is the cause of the manifestation and dissolution of the world. (Vedabase)

   

Text 8

Until the end of a period as long as two parārdhas, in which the life of Brahmā himself finds its conclusion [see 3.11], they dwell in the transcendental world immersed in thoughts about the Supreme One.

To the end of two parārdhas, which is the end of Brahmā himself [see 3-11], they indeed dwell for such a long time on the planet of the Supreme, immersed in thoughts of the beyond. (Vedabase)


Text 9

After having experienced for the time of two parārdhas the natural self [of creation] consisting of the three modes, the Lord of the Beyond [Brahmā], desiring to dissolve the material covering composed of earth, water, fire, ether, mind, senses, objects, ego and so on, enters the unmanifested primal state.

At that time he, the chief, Lord Brahmā, desiring to dissolve the covering of earth, water, fire, ether, mind, senses, objects, ego and so on, enters the changeless spiritual sky after having experienced the time consisting of the three modes. (Vedabase)

Text 10

Those yogis who went all the way to become detached by controlling their breath and mind and thus entered Lord Brahmā who cannot be attained with false self conceptions, next together with him go to the Original Person, the embodiment of bliss who is the oldest, primary reality of the spirit. 

Thus covering such a long period of time of Lord Brahmā, do those yogis, who did not give up the responsibility for their bodies in controlling the breath and the mind in detachment with him, indeed together enter the Original Person, the embodiment of bliss, the oldest of the primary reality of the spirit. (Vedabase)


Text 11

Dear mother, therefore by means of devotional service take to the shelter of Him, the Lord you now heard about, who resides in the lotus heart of each.

Therefore, My dear mother, take by devotional service to the shelter of Him you now heard about, who resides in the lotus hearts of all. (Vedabase)

  

Text 12-15

[But remember that] even Brahmā, the Creator of the mobile and immobile manifestations who is the source of Vedic wisdom, as also the sages and the masters of yoga, the Kumāras and the other perfected souls and original thinkers of yoga who attained the original Person of the Absolute Truth, the first among all the souls, by dint of their detached, egoless actions, despite their independent vision and all their spiritual qualities, again take birth to assume their positions when this manifestation of the Lord is recreated through the operation of time and the three modes. And that is also true for all others who enjoyed the divine opulence that resulted from their pious deeds, they also return when the interaction of the modes again takes place.

The creator of the living and the lifeless, who is the repository of the Vedas, along with the sages and masters of yoga, the Kumāras and the other perfected ones and fountainheads of yoga, were despite of having other ideas in their independence as a doer, not after material results in their actions and had the qualities of the Original Person of Brahman, the first incarnation. He at the time who has attained again by time the position of Mastery, is born as previously when the interaction to the modes reappears. Having enjoyed again [the true nectar of reunion after dissolution] do the sages by their pious activities, as also the royal opulence produced thereof, all together return, when that interaction to the modes takes place. (Vedabase)



Text 16

They whose minds in this world are addicted to fruitive activities, engage with conviction in their prescribed duties in attachment to the result of their labor and do that time and again.

Those who in their thinking in this world are a slave of fruitive action, for sure perform with faith their prescribed duties in attachment to the result and do so time and again. (Vedabase)


Text 17

Fully engaged in their households they worship their forefathers while they, being driven by passion, have minds that - aspiring for gratification - are full of anxieties with their senses out of control.

Driven by passion, are their minds, aspiring for gratification, full of anxieties, are their senses out of control and do they daily at home engage themselves in the worship of their forefathers. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

[Trai-vargika] persons dedicated to the three civil virtues [of economy, sense gratification and religious service] are not interested in the pastimes of Lord Hari, the killer of the demon Madhu, whose exceptional prowess is so worthy of being described.

Those [trai-vargika] persons who are after the tree benefits [of economy, sense gratification and religious service] are not interested in the pastimes of Lord Hari, the killer of the demon Mādhu, whose transcendental excellence is worth chanting. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Having given up on the nectar of the stories about the Infallible One, they, struck by fate, rather listen to materialistic stories, and in that respect they are just like stool eating hogs.

Having given up on the nectar of the stories about the Infallible One they find the divine order as also disturbing and [instead] listen to the stories of materialism to which they are just like stool eating hogs. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

When the sun goes through the south, they, after their cremation, go to their forefathers, to again take birth in their families for the performance of fruitive activities to the [bitter] end [compare B.G. 8: 25].

When the sun goes through the south, do they along with their families after their cremation take birth again in the world of their forefathers, performing their fruitive activities to the end [compare B.G. 8: 25]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

By divine arrangement they directly fall down from their elevated position to return to this planet, when they have exhausted the merit of their pious deeds, oh virtuous one [compare B.G. 9: 21].

When they have exhausted the results of their pious deeds, they by divine arrangement return to this planet, o virtuous one, against their expectations helplessly falling so, because of being bewildered by their prosperity [compare B.G. 9: 21]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

Worship therefore with all your heart the Supreme Lord, your refuge, by the worshipable feet of whom your devotional service is associated with the good qualities.

Therefore you should, with all your love, worship the Supreme One of Refuge, of whose feet the devotional service is connected with the good qualities. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Engaging in devotional service unto Vāsudeva the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will very soon result in the detachment and spiritual knowledge that lead to self-realization.

The discharge of devotional service unto Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will very soon result in the detachment and spiritual knowledge of self-realization.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

When the mind of the devotee in every circumstance is equipoised relative to the activity of the senses, he makes no distinction between like and dislike as a consequence.

When the mind for material outcome of the devotee is of sameness to the activities of the senses, is thus finally no difference experienced with the likes and dislikes. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

He is then, because of the detached mindfulness of his soul, in freedom from sympathy and antipathy, of an equal vision and sees himself elevated to the transcendental position.

He then for sure, of the detachment of his soul equipoised in his vision, is free from aversions or preferences and sees himself elevated to the transcendental position.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Even though the Supreme Personality constitutes the unique completeness of transcendental knowledge, He in philosophical research and other processes of understanding is differently perceived as the Spirit of the Absolute [Brahman], the Supersoul [Paramātmā] and the Lord personally present [Bhagavān, see also S.B. 1.2: 11].

To the different perceptions of the Spiritual Absolute, the Supersoul and the Person of Control in philosophical research and other processes of understanding, is the Supreme Lord the only measure for transcendental knowledge. (Vedabase)


Text 27

The only purpose for a yogi to realize in this world is to achieve, by the practice of yoga, complete detachment from everything.

By the exact of that measure is with all the kinds of yoga in this world the desired purpose of the yogi achieved, which is indeed the complete of detachment. (Vedabase)


Text 28

For someone averse to the knowledge of spirituality, the pure spirit of the absolute, Brahman, which is free from the [interacting] modes, appears as a relativity of forms that can be perceived through the senses and is misconceived as being endowed with sounds and so on.

To the one who by the knowledge of the senses is averse to the Supreme of the Absolute beyond the material modes, it mistakenly appears to be of the nature of sounds and such to the forms of the various objects [as something relative]. (Vedabase)


Text 29

[But] just as from the mahat-tattva with the three modes and the five elements, the material body of the living entity was formed with its individual consciousness, eleven senses [the five senses of action and perception, including the mind] and false ego, also the universe was formed out of the cosmic egg of all universes [and may thus be concluded that no essential difference exists between the local covering of the individual soul and the gigantic universal covering of the Supersoul; or briefly stated, that the universe must be seen as a person].

As the great principle we have the false ego, the three modes, the five elements, the individual consciousness and the eleven senses [the five senses of action and perception, including the mind] as the material body of the living entity that appeared from the egg that is the universe. (Vedabase)


Text 30

With faith and devotion ever being steadfast in yoga, he understands this whose mind is fixed in the detachment of disassociating oneself from material involvement.

In truth, with faith, devotion and being ever steadfast in yoga does that one understand whose mind is fixed in the detachment of distancing oneself from material association. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Thus My respectful mother, I have described this spiritual knowledge that reveals the perspective of the Pure Spirit by which both the material and personal reality [prakriti and purusha] is understood.

Thus, My respectful mother, I have described this spiritual knowledge that reveals the Absolute Truth by which the reality of the material and the personal is understood.  (Vedabase)

Text 32

Rather than by each of them alone, by means of both jńāna-yoga [the yoga of spiritual knowledge] and the freedom from the modes of being directed towards Me that is called bhakti, the purpose is achieved that is denoted by the word Bhagavān.

Of both jńāna-yoga [the yoga of spiritual knowledge] as of the freedom from the modes directed towards Me called bhakti, is, rather than by each of them alone, for sure the purpose achieved signified by the word Bhagavān. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

One and the same object having many qualities is differently perceived by the senses, similarly the one and only Lord of All Fortune is seen differently depending the different paths described in the scriptures.

The way by the senses the one of an object having many qualities is perceived differently, is similarly the Supreme Lord, Bhagavān, one but differently perceived according the different paths described in the scriptures. (Vedabase)


Text 34-36

By material actions, sacrificial ceremonies, charity, austerities, study of the scriptures, philosophical research, subduing the mind and senses, as also by renunciation and forsaking profit-minded labor, practicing the different types of yoga, performing devotional service and fulfilling one's individual duties - in case of both an active life and a contemplative life [pravritti and nivritti dharma] -, one will, with consequent detachment and knowledge of the science of self-realization, perceive the Supreme Lord in His true nature: as being present in both the material world and in transcendence [saguna and nirguna].

Through material actions, sacrifices, charity, austerities, study of the scriptures, philosophical research, subduing the mind and senses, as also through the renounced order and fruitive action, does one, practicing the different types of yoga - of performing devotional service and for sure indeed doing one's duties known as pravritti- and nivritti-dharma - by understanding the science of selfrealization and strong detachment, perceive the Supreme Lord in His true nature in as well the material world as in transcendence.  (Vedabase)

  

Text 37

I explained to you the four divisions of identity [svarūpa] in devotional service [three according to the modes and one for their transcendence*], as also the imperceptible action of time [the conditioning] that drives the living entities.

I explained to you the four divisions [with the modes and the transcendence above it *] of identity [svarūpa] in devotional service as also the imperceptible of the movement of time [the conditioning] that drives the living entities. (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

For the living entity, My dear mother, there are many ways of engaging materially in ignorance [about one's original identity]. They are all the result of working for a material outcome [karma], and he who gets entangled in it has therefore lost his way.

For the living entity there are many courses of material action in ignorance, resulting from working for a material outcome [karma] My dear mother, of which the soul entering that existence does not understand his own ways. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

This what I said is not meant for instructing the evil-minded and the ones of bad conduct, nor to be told to obstinate and offensive people or to anyone who only in name does his duty.

This is not meant for instructing the wicked, the ones of bad conduct, or should ever be told to the obstinate or the ones in offense and certainly also not to those who only in name do their duty. (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

One must not tell this to greedy persons and neither to someone attached to hearth and home, nor to those who are not devoted to Me or detest My devotees.

One should not instruct the destructive ones too eager nor the ones overly attached to their family life, nor the non-devoted nor as well ever the ones envious of Me and My devotees.  (Vedabase)


Text 41

It is meant for the faithful souls, for devotees, respectful people, for those not spiteful towards anyone, those who are friendly and eager to render their services conscientiously.

It is meant for the faithful, the devotees, the respectful, those not spiteful towards anyone, the friendly eager to render their services conscientiously. (Vedabase)

  

Text 42

Tell this to those who with a peaceful mind developed detachment for what is outside of them, to those who are not envious, who are clean and to whom I am the dearest of the dear.

Let this instruction be there for those with a peaceful mind who developed detachment for what lays outside of it, who are non-envious and clean and for whom I am the dearest of the dear. (Vedabase)

 

Text 43

Oh mother, he who but once with faith heard about this or repeats this for himself in being fixed on Me [doing japa], will certainly attain My heaven.'

O mother, that person who once with faith may hear of this or repeats his mind being fixed on Me [does japa], will for certain attain to My abode. (Vedabase)
 
*: The four identities with the modes and their transcendence are known to belong to the game of order the human being plays in his identifications of according to the four classes [varna], four statuses [ās'rama], the three modes [guna] and the eight levels of transcendence [ashthānga] functioning with a certain degree of experience and position of emancipation.  

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

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The picture of the fruitive worker is painted by
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