| Canto 11: General History | Chapter 14: Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.14.1
SYNONYMS
śrī-uddhavah uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; vadanti — they speak; krishna — my dear Krishna; śreyāmsi — processes for advancement in life; bahūni — many; brahma-vādinah — the learned sages who have explained the Vedic literature; teshām — of all such processes; vikalpa — of varieties of perception; prādhānyam — supremacy; uta — or; aho — indeed; eka — of one; mukhyatā — being most important.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Krishna, the learned sages who explain Vedic literature recommend various processes for perfecting one's life. Considering these varieties of viewpoint, my Lord, please tell me whether all these processes are equally important, or whether one of them is supreme.
PURPORT
In order to clearly establish the exalted position of bhakti-yoga, or pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Śrī Uddhava requests Lord Krishna to identify the supreme among all processes of self-realization. Not all Vedic processes lead directly to the ultimate goal, pure love of God; some only gradually elevate the consciousness of the living entity. For the purpose of giving a general outline of the process of self-realization, sages may discuss the various methods of elevation. But when the time comes to ascertain the most perfect process, the secondary methods must be cleared from the path.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
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