140 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 2, Ch. 3
jidnam yad dpratinivrtta-gunormi-cakram
dtma-prasdda uta yatra gunesv asaigah
kaivalya-sammata-pathas tv atha bhakti-yogah
ko nirvrto hari-kathdasu ratim na kuryat
jnanam—knowledge; yat—that which; @—up to the limit of; pratini-
urtta—completely withdrawn; guna-iirmi—the waves of the material modes;
cakram—whirlpool ;dtma-prasadah—self-satisfaction;uta—moreover; yatra—
where there is; gunesu--in the modes of nature; asarigah—no attachment;
kaivalya—transcendental; sammata—approved; pathah—path; tu—but; atha
—therefore; bhakti-yogah—devotional service; kah—who; _nirvrtah—ab-
sorbed in; hari-kathadsu—in the transcendental topic of the Lord; ratim—
attraction; ra—shall not; kuryat—do.
TRANSLATION
Transcendental knowledge in relation with the Supreme Lord Hari is
knowledge resulting in the complete suspension of the waves and whirl-
pools of the material modes. Such knowledge is self-satisfying due to its
being free from material attachment, and being transcendental it is
approved by authorities. Who could fail to be attracted?
PURPORT
According to Bhagavad-gita the characteristics of pure devotees are
wonderful (Bg. 1.9). The complete functional activities of a pure devotee
are always engaged in the service of the Lord, and thus they exchange
feelings of ecstasy between themselves and relish transcendental bliss. This
transcendental bliss is experienced even in the stage of devotional practice
(sadhana-avastha), if properly undertaken under the guidance of a bona
fide spiritual master. And in the mature stage the developed transcendental
feeling culminates in realization of the particular relationship with the
Lord by which a living entity is originally constituted (up to the relation-
ship of conjugal love with the Lord, estimated as highest transcendental
bliss). Thus bhakti-yoga, being the only means of God realization is called
kaivalya. Srila iva Gosvami quotes the Vedic version (eko narayano devah
paravaranam parama aste kaivalya-sangitah) in this connection and estab-
lishes that Narayana, the Personality of Godhead, is known as kaivalya,
and the means which enables one to approach the Lord is called the
