376 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 11

tatha—therefore; eva—indeed; rajan—O King: uru-garha-medha—
rituals related to material household life: vitana-vidya—in knowledge
that expands: uru—very greatly: vijrmbhitesu—among those interested:
na—not: veda-vddesu—who speak the version of the Vedas; hi—in-
deed: tattva-vadah—the spiritual science: prayena—almost always:
Suddhah—free from all contaminated activities; nu—indeed: cakasti—
appear: sadhuh—a person who is advanced in devotional service.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, talks of the relationship between the master and
the servant, the king and the subject and so forth are simply talks
about material activities. People interested in material activities,
which are expounded in the Vedas, are intent on performing
material sacrifices and placing faith in their material activities. For
such people, spiritual advancement is definitely not manifest.

PURPORT

In this verse, two words are significant—veda-vada and tattva-vdda.
According to Bhagavad-gita, those who are simply attached to the Vedas
and who do not understand the purpose of the Vedas or the Vedanta-
sittra are called veda-vdda-ratah.

yam imam puspitam vacam
pravadanty avipascitah

veda-vada-ratah partha
nanyad astiti vadinah

kamatmanah svarga-para
Janma-karma-phala-pradam

kriyd-visesa-bahulam
bhogaisvarya-gatim prati

**Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of
the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to
heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power and so forth. Being

desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say there is nothing
more than this.”” (Bg. 2.42-43)
