Kapilopadesha (Sanskrit Text and English Translation)

Kapilopadesh occurs in the third skandha of the Bhagvata Purana, comprising nine of its concluding chapters. It is well known that the Bhagavata is dedicated to the narration of the stories of the great incarnations of Shri Vishnu, the Protector among the Hindu Trinity. The Bhagavata is essentially a scripture on Bhakti or devotion to God, by means of which one attains Mukti. That apart, there are also flashes of philosophical expositions in different skandhas.

Bhagavan Kapila is looked upon as one of the divine incarnation. In Kapilopadesha, which is in the form of the dialogue between Kapila and his mother, Devahuti, the son gives sermons on a variety of subjects, but never deviates from the central theme of the Bhagavata, namely, Mukti or Freedom from bondage. The method advocates here towards this emancipation, Kaivalya, is the Samkhya philosophy. It recognizes two realities, Purusha and Prakriti, and insists on the need to develop a faculty to discriminate between these two by self-effort and by knowing their true nature. When that knowledge dawns, Moksha or Freedom results. Kapila is, therefore, reagarded as the propounder of the Samkhya system of Indian philosophy.

In the course of his dialogue, Kapila stakes a note that has a message relevant to our times and emphasizes the necessity to 'serve all beings', looking upon them as the manifestations of the Supreme Beings (V.21-27), by 'overcoming the separativeness of a self-centered life' and offering 'gifts, honor, and love' to all creatures.

The translator, Swami Tapasyanandaji Maharaja, has written a scholarly and informative Introduction to this book, wherein he has discussed in detail the intricacies of the Samkhya philosophy. The whole of the Kapilopadesha is an excerpt from the Swami's highly readable translation of Srimad Bhagavata, complete in four volumes, published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Madras. We are beholden to the translator, who is a Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Matha and the Ramakrishna Mission, as well as Sri Ramakrishna Mission, as well as President of Sri Ramakrishna Matha, Madras, for granting us permission to print the book in this format.

We consider our efforts fruitful if this book finds its way to earnest seekers and stimulate the dormant urge in them to strive to attain the highest spiritual goal - Freedom from bondage, Moksha.

Publisher

12 January 1990

Swami Vivekananda's Birthday

Advaita Ashrama

Mayavati, Pithoragarh, Himalayas

CONTENTS

	Introduction	11
Chapter I	Nature of Bhakti	59
Chapter II	The Categories	77
Chapter III	The Way of Release	110
Chapter IV	Disciplines for Realization	123
Chapter V	Some details of the Path of Devotion	144
Chapter VI	The Destiny of the Sinful	162
Chapter VII	The Jiva's Cycle of Births and Deaths	175
Chapter VIII	The Spiritual Goal	197
Chapter IX	Conclusion	215
	Index to the First Words of the Shlokas	229