జ్ఞాన భక్తి కర్మ క్రమతః

(Sung by Smt. Devi)

జ్ఞాన భక్తి కర్మ క్రమతః
త్రిమూర్తి గురవః కలితా దత్త! (పల్లవీ)

O Datta! Your three divine forms i.e. Śiva, Viṣṇu and Brahmā descended down as the three divine preachers called Śaṅkara, Rāmānuja and Madhva, to preach knowledge, devotion and service respectively.

జ్ఞానమాద్యం శఙ్కరతో ధీః,
యద్వినా తు నాఽన్యే భవతః ।।

(The first is the Spiritual knowledge without which devotion and practice are impossible to take birth and this was established by Śaṅkara.

జ్ఞానాత్ భక్తిర్ జాయతే హి,
రామానుజతః శక్త్యావేశః ।।

The second step is the devotion that is born from knowledge, which is force of inspiration and this was established by Rāmānuja.

కర్మ సేవా ద్వివిధా మధ్వాత్,
యా హి పరీక్షా సత్య భక్తేః ।।

The third step is practical action, which is Sacrifice of work and Sacrifice of fruit of work and which is the test for the true love and this was established by Madhva.