Read a Lecture by Srila Prabhupada on BG 3:1-5
é[q>aGavaNauvac
l/aeke-_iSMaiNÜivDaa iNaïa Paura Pa[ae¢-a MaYaaNaga )
jaNaYaaeGaeNa Saa&:YaaNaa& k-MaRYaaeGaeNa YaaeiGaNaaMa( )) 3 ))
çré-bhagavän uväca
loke 'smin dvi-vidhä niñöhä
purä proktä mayänagha
jïäna-yogena säìkhyänäà
karma-yogena yoginäm
SYNONYMS
çré-bhagavän uväca-the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; loke-in the world; asmin-this; vi-vidhä-two kinds of; niñöhä-faith; purä-formerly; proktä-were said; mayä-by Me; anagha-O sinless one; jïäna-yogena-by the linking process of knowledge; säìkhyänäm-of the empiric philosophers; karma-yogena-by the linking process of devotion; yoginäm-of the devotees.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who try to realize the self. Some are inclined to understand it by empirical, philosophical speculation, and others by devotional service.
PURPORT
In the Second Chapter, verse 39, the Lord explained two kinds of procedures-namely säìkhya-yoga and karma-yoga, or buddhi-yoga. In this verse, the Lord explains the same more clearly. Säìkhya-yoga, or the analytical study of the nature of spirit and matter, is the subject matter for persons who are inclined to speculate and understand things by experimental knowledge and philosophy. The other class of men work in Kåñëa consciousness, as it is explained in the 61st verse of the Second Chapter. The Lord has explained, also in the 39th verse, that by working by the principles of buddhi-yoga, or Kåñëa consciousness, one can be relieved from the bonds of action; and, furthermore, there is no flaw in the process. The same principle is more clearly explained in the 61st verse-that this buddhi-yoga is to depend entirely on the Supreme (or more specifically, on Kåñëa), and in this way all the senses can be brought under control very easily. Therefore, both the yogas are interdependent, as religion and philosophy. Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation. The ultimate goal is Kåñëa, because the philosophers who are also sincerely searching after the Absolute Truth come in the end to Kåñëa consciousness. This is also stated in the Bhagavad-gétä. The whole process is to understand the real position of the self in relation to the Superself. The indirect process is philosophical speculation, by which, gradually, one may come to the point of Kåñëa consciousness; and the other process is directly connecting with everything in Kåñëa consciousness. Of these two, the path of Kåñëa consciousness is better because it does not depend on purifying the senses by a philosophical process. Kåñëa consciousness is itself the purifying process, and by the direct method of devotional service it is simultaneously easy and sublime.
