Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7
Karma, Jñāna, and Bhakti: Vedic Dharma, Piety and Sin, and the Boat of Human Life
निर्विण्णानां ज्ञानयोगो न्यासिनामिह कर्मसु । तेष्वनिर्विण्णचित्तानां कर्मयोगस्तु कामिनाम् ॥ ७ ॥
nirviṇṇānāṁ jñāna-yogo nyāsinām iha karmasu teṣv anirviṇṇa-cittānāṁ karma-yogas tu kāminām
Unter diesen Wegen wird jñāna-yoga denen empfohlen, die des materiellen Lebens überdrüssig sind und sich von fruchtbringenden Handlungen lösen. Wer jedoch noch nicht überdrüssig ist und viele Wünsche hat, soll Vollkommenheit durch karma-yoga suchen.
In this verse the Lord reveals the different propensities that lead human beings to adopt different processes of perfection. Those who are frustrated in the ordinary material life of society, friendship and love, and who understand that promotion to heaven simply brings further domestic miseries, take directly to the path of knowledge. Through authorized philosophical discrimination they transcend the bonds of material existence. Those who are still desirous of enjoying material society, friendship and love, and who are excited by the prospect of going with their relatives to material heavenly planets, cannot take directly to the path of rigorous philosophical advancement, which requires great austerity. Such persons are advised to remain in family life and offer the fruits of their work to the Supreme. In this way, they also can become perfect and gradually learn detachment from material life.
FAQs
It explains that jñāna-yoga suits those who are detached from material life, while karma-yoga is prescribed for those still with desires, so they can purify the heart through offered work.
Kṛṣṇa was guiding Uddhava on practical spiritual progression—how different temperaments (detached vs still desiring) should adopt the appropriate discipline to advance toward purity and devotion.
If one is still driven by ambitions and desires, practice karma-yoga: perform duties responsibly and offer the results to God; as detachment grows, deeper contemplation and jñāna naturally develop alongside devotion.