Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Narada Bhakti Sutra 28

tasya jnanam eva sadhanam ity eke

SYNONYMS

tasyah -- of it (bhakti); jnanam -- knowledge; eva -- alone; sadhanam -- the means; iti -- thus; eke -- some.

TRANSLATION

Some say that knowledge is the means for developing devotion.

PURPORT

In this and the following two sutras Narada discusses the relation between knowledge and bhakti.

Is bhakti based on knowledge? Acquiring knowledge is certainly an important part of Krsna consciousness. In the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna reprimands Arjuna for "speaking learned words" but acting like one in ignorance. Krsna thus becomes the guru of Arjuna and begins by teaching him about the immortality of the soul. Indeed, throughout the Bhagavad-gita Krsna gives Arjuna essential knowledge concerning devotional service. Lord Caitanya also took the role of teacher in His pastimes with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Prakasananda Sarasvati, and Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis.

Krsna conscious knowledge is not jnana in the impersonal sense but is rather knowledge of the soul, God, and God's energies, with a bhakti conclusion. It is obvious, therefore, that knowledge helps one practice bhakti. Sometimes Srila Prabhupada was asked, "How can a person without knowledge know if a spiritual master is bona fide?" Srila Prabhupada replied that to know who a bona fide spiritual master is, one must first have some idea of what a spiritual master is. He gave the example that if someone wants to buy gold, he had better learn about gold and the gold market. Otherwise, he will be easily cheated. Or if someone wants to attend a college, he has to research the qualifications of various universities, their entrance requirements, and so on. So knowledge is certainly an important component of bhakti. Srila Prabhupada wrote his books with the aim of distributing transcendental knowledge, and in his Bhagavad-gita he wrote, "Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation."

Yet although knowledge is important, it is not an absolute requisite for bhakti. If Krsna likes, He can immediately bestow enlightenment upon any person, regardless of his education. And in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.7), Suta Gosvami declares,

vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah

janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam

"By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Krsna, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment."

Therefore, while knowledge may help one to take up and prosecute bhakti, the contention that knowledge is the source of bhakti is false.

<<< >>>

Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari