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The Three Paths: Karma, Bhakti And Jnana
Uddhava said: “O Lord of lotus-like eyes! ‘To do’ and ‘not to do’; ‘Karma is to be performed’ and ‘Karma is not to be performed’, injunctions and prohibitions - both are Thy injunctions in the Vedas. The Vedas speak of merits and demerits in connection with Karma. They speak of Varna and Ashrama, of difference sintime, space, age and objects, of Svarga and Naraka.
How can Thy words consisting of injunctions and prohibitions lead men to the final emancipation or Moksha without the knowledge of distinction between good and bad or merit and defect?
O Lord, the Vedas, Thy words are the highest source of illumination for the manes, the gods and men, regarding this unseen such as Moksha or Svarga, as well as the means and ends.
The idea of distinction as good and bad, right and wrong is derived from Thy own command in the form of Vedas but not by one’s fancy. It is not innate. The same scriptures undermine all ideas of difference. If that distinction is denied or refuted by the same Vedas, I am puzzled and confounded. Therefore, kindly enlighten me on this point.”
The Lord said: “In order to lead them to final happiness three Yogas or ways have been taught by Me. They are Jnana (knowledge), Karma (work) and Bhakti (devotion). There is no other means whatsoever of attaining Moksha.
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