Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 2
Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step
वेदोपवेदा नियमा यमान्विता- स्तर्केतिहासाङ्गपुराणसंहिता: । ये चापरे योगसमीरदीपित- ज्ञानाग्निना रन्धितकर्मकल्मषा: ॥ २ ॥ ववन्दिरे यत्स्मरणानुभावत: स्वायम्भुवं धाम गता अकर्मकम् । अथाङ्घ्रये प्रोन्नमिताय विष्णो- रुपाहरत् पद्मभवोऽर्हणोदकम् । समर्च्य भक्त्याभ्यगृणाच्छुचिश्रवा यन्नाभिपङ्केरुहसम्भव: स्वयम् ॥ ३ ॥
vedopavedā niyamā yamānvitās tarketihāsāṅga-purāṇa-saṁhitāḥ ye cāpare yoga-samīra-dīpita- jñānāgninā randhita-karma-kalmaṣāḥ
Among the great personalities who came to worship the lotus feet of the Lord were those who had attained perfection in self-control and regulative principles, as well as experts in logic, history, general education and the Vedic literature known as kalpe [dealing with old historical incidents]. Others were experts in the Vedic corollaries like Brahma-saṁhitā, all the other knowledge of the Vedas [Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg and Atharva], and also the supplementary Vedic knowledge [Āyurveda, Dhanurveda, etc.]. Others were those who had been freed of the reactions to fruitive activities by transcendental knowledge awakened by practice of yoga. And still others were those who had attained residence in Brahmaloka not by ordinary karma but by advanced Vedic knowledge. After devotedly worshiping the upraised lotus feet of the Supreme Lord with oblations of water, Lord Brahmā, who was born of the lotus emanating from Lord Viṣṇu’s navel, offered prayers to the Lord.
FAQs
This verse states that the impurities of karma are burned up in the fire of realized knowledge, especially when that knowledge is kindled and strengthened by the practice of yoga.
He is describing the many classes of spiritually advanced authorities—Vedic scholars, disciplined practitioners, and yogīs—who are qualified by learning and realization and are being referenced in the narrative at this point.
Adopt ethical restraints and steady daily disciplines, and support them with sincere spiritual practice so that knowledge becomes transformative rather than merely academic.