Chapter 9: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Travels to the Holy Places

In the Vedas there are three kāṇḍas, or divisions: karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa, and upāsanā-kāṇḍa. The karma-kāṇḍa portion stresses the execution of fruitive activities, although ultimately it is advised that one abandon both karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa (speculative knowledge) and accept only upāsanā-kāṇḍa, or bhakti-kāṇḍa. One cannot attain love of Godhead by executing karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa. However, by dedicating one's karma, or fruitive activities, to the Supreme Lord, one may be relieved from the polluted mind. But when one is actually free from mental pollution, one must be elevated to the spiritual platform. It is then that one needs the association of a pure devotee, for only by a pure devotee's association can one become a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. When one comes to the stage of pure devotional service, the process of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam is very essential. By executing the nine items of devotional service, one is completely purified. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam (B.r.s. 1.1.12). Only then is one able to execute the order of Kṛṣṇa.

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me

"Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." (Bg. 18.65)

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." (Bg. 18.66)

In this way one develops his original constitutional position by which he can render loving service to the Lord. One cannot be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service by karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa. Pure devotional service can be understood and attained only through the association of pure devotees. In this regard, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that there are two types of karma-kāṇḍa activities—pious and impious. Pious activities are certainly preferred to impious activities, but even pious activities cannot assure one ecstatic love of God, Kṛṣṇa. Pious and impious activities can bring about material happiness or distress, but there is no possibility in one's becoming a pure devotee simply by acting piously or impiously. Bhakti, devotional service, means satisfying Kṛṣṇa. In every revealed scripture—whether jñāna-kāṇḍa or karma-kāṇḍa is stressed—the principle of renunciation is always praised. The ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is the supreme Vedic evidence. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said:

naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ
na śobhate jñānam alaṁ nirañjanam
kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare
na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam

"Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?" (Bhāg. 1.5.12) This means that even knowledge, which is superior to fruitive activity, is not successful if it is devoid of devotional service. In all scriptures—in the beginning, middle and end—karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa are condemned. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said: dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra.

This is explained in the following verses taken from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.11.32) and Bhagavad-gītā (18.66).