Shloka 17

Devanagari script

ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगेन कर्मणामुद्धरन् जटा: । हिरण्यकेश: पद्माक्ष: पद्ममुद्रापदाम्बुज: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

jñāna-vijñāna-yogena karmaṇām uddharan jaṭāḥ hiraṇya-keśaḥ padmākṣaḥ padma-mudrā-padāmbujaḥ

Translation

By mystic yoga and the practical application of scriptural knowledge, Kapila Muni—golden-haired, lotus-eyed, and bearing lotus marks upon His lotus feet—will uproot the deeply rooted desire for karmic work in this material world.

Synonyms

• ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगेन: by the yoga of knowledge and realization
• ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगेन: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञानस्य विज्ञानस्य च योगः/योगेन)

• कर्मणाम्: of actions (karmas)
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• उद्धरन्: lifting up, delivering
• उद्धरन्: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्√हृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृत् प्रत्यय) → उद्धरन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• जटाः: matted locks (of hair)
• जटाः: Karma (कर्म/object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• हिरण्यकेशः: having golden hair
• हिरण्यकेशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (हिरण्यवत् केशाः यस्य)

• पद्माक्षः: lotus-eyed
• पद्माक्षः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (पद्मवत् अक्षिणी यस्य)

• पद्ममुद्रापदाम्बुजः: whose lotus-feet bear lotus-marks
• पद्ममुद्रापदाम्बुजः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (पदाम्बुजे पद्ममुद्रा यस्य/यस्य पदाम्बुजे पद्ममुद्रा)

Purport

In this verse the activities and bodily features of Kapila Muni are very nicely described. The activities of Kapila Muni are forecast herein: He will present the philosophy of Sāṅkhya in such a way that by studying His philosophy people will be able to uproot the deep-rooted desire for karma, fruitive activities. Everyone in this material world engages in achieving the fruits of his labor. A man tries to be happy by achieving the fruits of his own honest labor, but actually he becomes more and more entangled. One cannot get out of this entanglement unless he has perfect knowledge, or devotional service.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kapila
• Devahūti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about destroying karma through knowledge and realization?

This verse says that by the yoga of jñāna (scriptural spiritual knowledge) joined with vijñāna (realized understanding), the burden of karma is lifted—pointing to liberation through realized devotion-centered wisdom, not mere ritual action.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Lord Kapila’s features like lotus eyes and lotus-foot marks?

Śukadeva highlights Kapila’s divine identity and auspicious signs—His lotus eyes and lotus-marked lotus feet—so the listener recognizes Him as the Supreme Lord who teaches liberation, not an ordinary philosopher.

How can jñāna and vijñāna be applied in modern life according to this shloka?

Study spiritual teachings (jñāna) and then practice until they become lived realization (vijñāna); this combination reduces karmic entanglement by shifting one’s motivation from results to spiritual truth and surrender.