Shloka 5
सनत्कुमाराद्भगवतो ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मविदुत्तमात् । लब्ध्वा ज्ञानं सविज्ञानं राजर्षि: कां गतिं गत: ॥ ५ ॥
sanat-kumārād bhagavato brahman brahma-vid-uttamāt labdhvā jñānaṁ sa-vijñānaṁ rājarṣiḥ kāṁ gatiṁ gataḥ
O brāhmaṇa, after receiving from Sanat-kumāra—the foremost knower of Vedic truth—knowledge together with its practical realization, what desired destination did the saintly King Pṛthu attain?
There are four Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas (systems) of disciplic succession. One sampradāya comes from Lord Brahmā, one from the goddess of fortune, one from the Kumāras, headed by Sanat-kumāra, and one from Lord Śiva. These four systems of disciplic succession are still going on. As King Pṛthu has illustrated, one who is serious about receiving transcendental Vedic knowledge must accept a guru, or spiritual master, in one of these four disciplic successions. It is said that unless one accepts a mantra from one of these sampradāyas, the so-called mantra will not act in Kali-yuga. Many sampradāyas have sprung up without authority, and they are misleading the people by giving unauthorized mantras. The rascals of these so-called sampradāyas do not observe the Vedic rules and regulations. Although they are addicted to all kinds of sinful activities, they still offer the people mantras and thus mislead them. Intelligent persons, however, know that such mantras will never be successful, and as such they never patronize such upstart spiritual groups. People should be very careful of these nonsensical sampradāyas. To get some facility for sense gratification, unfortunate people in this age receive mantras from these so-called sampradāyas. Pṛthu Mahārāja, however, showed by his example that one should receive knowledge from a bona fide sampradāya. Therefore Mahārāja Pṛthu accepted Sanat-kumāra as his spiritual master.
FAQs
This verse highlights that true spiritual attainment comes from receiving not only jñāna (scriptural knowledge) but also vijñāna (realized understanding) from a genuine Brahman-knower like Sanat-kumāra.
Because he represents the perfected, authoritative teacher of Brahman-realization, whose instruction grants both knowledge and direct realization, making him an ideal spiritual guide in the Purāṇic tradition.
Study sacred texts under authentic guidance, and pair learning with steady practice—purifying conduct, devotion, and contemplation—so knowledge becomes lived realization rather than mere information.