kapilas tattva-saṅkhyātā
bhagavān ātma-māyayā
jātaḥ svayam ajaḥ sākṣād
ātma-prajṣaptaye nṛṇām
śaunakaḥ uvāca-Śrī Śaunaka said; kapilaḥ-Lord Kapila; tattva-of the truth; saṅkhyātā-the expounder; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātma- māyayā-by His internal potency; jātaḥ-took birth; svayam-Himself; ajaḥ-unborn; sākṣāt-in person; ātma-prajñaptaye-to disseminate transcendental knowledge; nṛṇām-for the human race.
Śrī Śaunaka said: Although He is unborn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead took birth as Kapila Muni by His internal potency. He descended to disseminate transcendental knowledge for the benefit of the whole human race.
The word ātma-prajñaptaye indicates that the Lord descends for the benefit of the human race to give transcendental knowledge. Material necessities are quite sufficiently provided for in the Vedic knowledge, which offers a program for good living conditions and gradual elevation to the platform of goodness. In the mode of goodness one's knowledge expands. On the platform of passion there is no knowledge, for passion is simply an impetus to enjoy material benefits. On the platform of ignorance there is no knowledge and no enjoyment, but simply life almost like that of animals. The Vedas are meant to elevate one from the mode of ignorance to the platform of goodness. When one is situated in the mode of goodness he is able to understand