Satish Kumar: Vasiṣṭhān karmān vikarmān? Not like that? "Vi-" is generally used as to . . . a sort of . . . (indistinct) . . . to give the quality of the karma, quality of the action. Like vijñānam—jñānaṁ vijñānam; karmam vikarmam. So this a little . . . what is this root of the language? I don't . . .
Prabhupāda: Jñānam means you must know things theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge. That is. Jñānam means theoretical knowledge, and vijñānam means practical knowledge. Jñānaṁ vijñānam. When your knowledge is applied practically in life . . . just like yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ (BG 3.9). This knowledge is theoretical, that one has to work only for yajña.
Yajñād bhavati parjanyo parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ (BG 3.14). These things are there. So everyone should act for yajña, Yajñeśavara. In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is said, varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān, viṣṇur ārādhyate (CC Madhya 8.58). If you act according to varṇāśrama, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, never mind, whatever you are . . . everything is meant for pleasing the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Viṣṇur ārādhyate.
Satish Kumar: Hmm.
Prabhupāda: Nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam (CC Madhya 8.58). So in order to satisfy Him, there is no other way than to act according to the tenets of varṇāśrama-dharma. This is the beginning of civilization. Without accepting this division of varṇas, that is animal society; everything is chaos.