Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.1.12

Skandham-6.


Chapter-1. 


Slokam-12 (  O, King, if a diseased person eats the pure, uncontaminated food prescribed by a physician, he is gradually cured, and the infection of disease can no longer touch him. Similarly, if one follows the regulative principles of knowledge, he gradually progresses toward liberation from material contamination. )




nasnatah    pathyam    evannam    vyadhayobhibhavanti    hi,



evam     niyamakrd    rajan    sanaih     kshemaya    kalpate.



na=not; 

sanatah=those who eat; 

pathyam=suitable; 

eva=indeed; 

annam=food; 

vyadhayah=different types of disease; 

abhibhavanti=overcome; 

hi=indeed; 

evam=similarly; 

niyama-krt=one following regulative principles;

 rajan=O King; 

sanaih=gradually; 

kshemaya=for well-being; 

kalpate=becomes fit.




One is gradually purified if one cultivates knowledge, even through mental speculation, and strictly follows the regulative principles enjoined in the sastras and explained in the next slokam. Therefore the platform of jnana, speculative knowledge, is better than the platform of karma, fruitive action. There is every chance of falling from the platform of karma to hellish conditions, but on the platform of jnana one is saved from hellish life, although one is still not completely free from infection. The difficulty is that on the platform of jnana one thinks that he has been liberated and has become Narayana, or Bhagavan. This is another phase of ignorance.


From B.G :  10.2.32.

Because of ignorance, one speculatively thinks himself liberated from material contamination although actually he is not. Therefore even if one rises to brahma jnana, understanding of Brahmam, one nevertheless falls down because of not taking shelter of the lotus feet of Krishna. Nonetheless, jnanis at least know what is sinful and what is pious, and they very cautiously act according to the injunctions of the sastras.

To be continued ....