The Indian Vedic literature stresses that one must accept a guru if one wants to advance in spiritual life. This page gives the reader information to help distinguish a bona fide guru from a cheater.
Veda means knowledge, and there are two kinds of knowledge, one mundane and another transcendental. The Vedas are considered to be originally transcendental because they come …
Madhavendra Puri recited this verse again and again at the end of his material existence. Thus uttering this verse, he attained the ultimate goal of life–O My Lord! O most me…
The first case of Classic Gitas, the reprint of Srila Prabhupada’s original Macmillan edition, arrived from the BBT. We opened it. WOW, they are beautiful!! The book felt soli…
hi there i got a question in one of the four vedas the ‘yajurveda’ it states in chapter 32 v.3 that idol worshiping is wrong. in bhagvad gita chapter 7 v.19-24 its states if u do idol worshiping then ur materialistic person. but in the krishna series it states god is everywhere even in objects its cos we see them as material objects thats why we never see it as part of god we need to see the object no through material eyes but through beyond material thinking then we will see gods form on this objects. am confused could u enlighten me please
Hare Krishna! Jai Nitai Gour Hari! Radhe Shyam! Hari Bol! Jai Dvarakadish!
Sandip ji! This may quench your thirst for answer of your question.
Hari Bol Radhe Radhe
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.22
yo māḿ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
santam ātmānam īśvaram
hitvārcāḿ bhajate mauḍhyād
bhasmany eva juhoti saḥ
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — one who; mām — Me; sarveṣu — in all; bhūteṣu — living entities; santam — being present; ātmānam — the Paramātmā; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; hitvā — disregarding; arcām — the Deity; bhajate — worships; mauḍhyāt — because of ignorance; bhasmani — into ashes; eva — only; juhoti — offers oblations; saḥ — he.
TRANSLATION
One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramātmā, is situated in every living entity’s heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations into ashes.
PURPORT
It is stated clearly herein that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His plenary expansion of Supersoul, is present in all living entities. The living entities have 8,400,000 different kinds of bodies, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living in every body both as the individual soul and as the Supersoul. Since the individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, in that sense the Lord is living in every body, and, as Supersoul, the Lord is also present as a witness. In both cases the presence of God in every living entity is essential. Therefore persons who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living entity, and everywhere else, are in the mode of ignorance.
If, without this preliminary knowledge of the Lord’s omnipresence, one simply attaches himself to the rituals in a temple, church or mosque, it is as if he were offering butter into ashes rather than into the fire. One offers sacrifices by pouring clarified butter into a fire and chanting Vedic mantras, but even if there are Vedic mantras and all conditions are favorable, if the clarified butter is poured on ashes, then such a sacrifice will be useless. In other words, a devotee should not ignore any living entity. The devotee must know that in every living entity, however insignificant he may be, even in an ant, God is present, and therefore every living entity should be kindly treated and should not be subjected to any violence. In modern civilized society, slaughterhouses are regularly maintained and supported by a certain type of religious principle. But without knowledge of the presence of God in every living entity, any so-called advancement of human civilization, either spiritual or material, is to be understood as being in the mode of ignorance.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.23
dviṣataḥ para-kāye māḿ
mānino bhinna-darśinaḥ
bhūteṣu baddha-vairasya
na manaḥ śāntim ṛcchati
SYNONYMS
dviṣataḥ — of one who is envious; para-kāye — towards the body of another; mām — unto Me; māninaḥ — offering respect; bhinna-darśinaḥ — of a separatist; bhūteṣu — towards living entities; baddha-vairasya — of one who is inimical; na — not; manaḥ — the mind; śāntim — peace; ṛcchati — attains.
TRANSLATION
One who offers Me respect but is envious of the bodies of others and is therefore a separatist never attains peace of mind, because of his inimical behavior towards other living entities.
PURPORT
In this verse, two phrases, bhūteṣu baddha-vairasya (“inimical towards others”) and dviṣataḥ para-kāye (“envious of another’s body”), are significant. One who is envious of or inimical towards others never experiences any happiness. A devotee’s vision, therefore, must be perfect. He should ignore bodily distinctions and should see only the presence of the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and the Lord Himself in His plenary expansion as Supersoul. That is the vision of a pure devotee. The bodily expression of a particular type of living entity is always ignored by the devotee.
It is expressed herein that the Lord is always eager to deliver the conditioned souls, who have been encaged within material bodies. Devotees are expected to carry the message or desire of the Lord to such conditioned souls and enlighten them with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus they may be elevated to transcendental, spiritual life, and the mission of their lives will be successful. Of course this is not possible for living entities who are lower than human beings, but in human society it is feasible that all living entities can be enlightened with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Even living entities who are lower than human can be raised to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by other methods. For example, Śivānanda Sena, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, delivered a dog by feeding him prasāda. Distribution of prasāda, or remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord, even to the ignorant masses of people and to animals, gives such living entities the chance for elevation to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Factually it happened that the same dog, when met by Lord Caitanya at Purī, was liberated from the material condition.
It is especially mentioned here that a devotee must be free from all violence (jīvāhiḿsā). Lord Caitanya has recommended that a devotee not commit violence to any living entity. Sometimes the question is raised that since vegetables also have life and devotees take vegetable foodstuffs, isn’t that violence? Firstly, however, taking some leaves, twigs or fruit from a tree or plant does not kill the plant. Besides that, jīvāhiḿsā means that since every living entity has to pass through a particular type of body according to his past karma, although every living entity is eternal, he should not be disturbed in his gradual evolution. A devotee has to execute the principles of devotional service exactly as they are, and he must know that however insignificant a living entity may be, the Lord is present within him. A devotee must realize this universal presence of the Lord.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.24
aham uccāvacair dravyaiḥ
kriyayotpannayānaghe
naiva tuṣye ‘rcito ‘rcāyāḿ
bhūta-grāmāvamāninaḥ
SYNONYMS
aham — I; ucca-avacaiḥ — with various; dravyaiḥ — paraphernalia; kriyayā — by religious rituals; utpannayā — accomplished; anaghe — O sinless mother; na — not; eva — certainly; tuṣye — am pleased; arcitaḥ — worshiped; arcāyām — in the Deity form; bhūta-grāma — to other living entities; avamāninaḥ — with those who are disrespectful.
TRANSLATION
My dear Mother, even if he worships with proper rituals and paraphernalia, a person who is ignorant of My presence in all living entities never pleases Me by the worship of My Deities in the temple.
PURPORT
There are sixty-four different prescriptions for worship of the Deity in the temple. There are many items offered to the Deity, some valuable and some less valuable. It is prescribed in Bhagavad-gītā: “If a devotee offers Me a small flower, a leaf, some water or a little fruit, I will accept it.” The real purpose is to exhibit one’s loving devotion to the Lord; the offerings themselves are secondary. If one has not developed loving devotion to the Lord and simply offers many kinds of foodstuffs, fruits and flowers without real devotion, the offering will not be accepted by the Lord. We cannot bribe the Personality of Godhead. He is so great that our bribery has no value. Nor has He any scarcity; since He is full in Himself, what can we offer Him? Everything is produced by Him. We simply offer to show our love and gratitude to the Lord.
This gratitude and love for God is exhibited by a pure devotee, who knows that the Lord lives in every living entity. As such, temple worship necessarily includes distribution of prasāda. It is not that one should create a temple in his private apartment or private room, offer something to the Lord, and then eat. Of course, that is better than simply cooking foodstuffs and eating without understanding one’s relationship with the Supreme Lord; people who act in this manner are just like animals. But the devotee who wants to elevate himself to the higher level of understanding must know that the Lord is present in every living entity, and, as stated in the previous verse, one should be compassionate to other living entities. A devotee should worship the Supreme Lord, be friendly to persons who are on the same level and be compassionate to the ignorant. One should exhibit his compassion for ignorant living entities by distributing prasāda. Distribution of prasāda to the ignorant masses of people is essential for persons who make offerings to the Personality of Godhead.
Real love and devotion is accepted by the Lord. Many valuable foodstuffs may be presented to a person, but if the person is not hungry, all such offerings are useless for him. Similarly, we may offer many valuable items to the Deity, but if we have no real sense of devotion and no real sense of the Lord’s presence everywhere, then we are lacking in devotional service; in such a state of ignorance, we cannot offer anything acceptable to the Lord.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.25
arcādāv arcayet tāvad
īśvaraḿ māḿ sva-karma-kṛt
yāvan na veda sva-hṛdi
sarva-bhūteṣv avasthitam
SYNONYMS
arcā-ādau — beginning with worship of the Deity; arcayet — one should worship; tāvat — so long; īśvaram — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mām — Me; sva — his own; karma — prescribed duties; kṛt — performing; yāvat — as long as; na — not; veda — he realizes; sva-hṛdi — in his own heart; sarva-bhūteṣu — in all living entities; avasthitam — situated.
TRANSLATION
Performing his prescribed duties, one should worship the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until one realizes My presence in his own heart and in the hearts of other living entities as well.
PURPORT
Worship of the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is prescribed herewith even for persons who are simply discharging their prescribed duties. There are prescribed duties for the different social classes of men — the brāhmaṇas, the vaiśyas, the kṣatriyas and the śūdras — and for the different āśramas — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. One should worship the Deity of the Lord until one appreciates the presence of the Lord in every living entity. In other words, one should not be satisfied simply by discharging his duties properly; he must realize his relationship and the relationship of all other living entities with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he does not understand this, then even though he discharges his prescribed duties properly, it is to be understood that he is simply laboring without profit.
The word sva-karma-kṛt in this verse is very significant. Sva-karma-kṛt is one who engages in discharging his prescribed duties. It is not that one who has become a devotee of the Lord or who engages in devotional service should give up his prescribed duties. No one should be lazy under the plea of devotional service. One has to execute devotional service according to his prescribed duties. Sva-karma-kṛt means that one should discharge the duties prescribed for him without neglect.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.26
ātmanaś ca parasyāpi
yaḥ karoty antarodaram
tasya bhinna-dṛśo mṛtyur
vidadhe bhayam ulbaṇam
SYNONYMS
ātmanaḥ — of himself; ca — and; parasya — of another; api — also; yaḥ — one who; karoti — discriminates; antarā — between; udaram — the body; tasya — of him; bhinna-dṛśaḥ — having a differential outlook; mṛtyuḥ — as death; vidadhe — I cause; bhayam — fear; ulbaṇam — great.
TRANSLATION
As the blazing fire of death, I cause great fear to whoever makes the least discrimination between himself and other living entities because of a differential outlook.
PURPORT
There are bodily differentiations among all varieties of living entities, but a devotee should not distinguish between one living entity and another on such a basis; a devotee’s outlook should be that both the soul and Supersoul are equally present in all varieties of living entities.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.27
atha māḿ sarva-bhūteṣu
bhūtātmānaḿ kṛtālayam
arhayed dāna-mānābhyāḿ
maitryābhinnena cakṣuṣā
SYNONYMS
atha — therefore; mām — Me; sarva-bhūteṣu — in all creatures; bhūta-ātmānam — the Self in all beings; kṛta-ālayam — abiding; arhayet — one should propitiate; dāna-mānābhyām — through charity and respect; maitryā — through friendship; abhinnena — equal; cakṣuṣā — by viewing.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, through charitable gifts and attention, as well as through friendly behavior and by viewing all to be alike, one should propitiate Me, who abide in all creatures as their very Self.
PURPORT
It should not be misunderstood that because the Supersoul is dwelling within the heart of a living entity, the individual soul has become equal to Him. The equality of the Supersoul and the individual soul is misconceived by the impersonalist. Here it is distinctly mentioned that the individual soul should be recognized in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The method of worshiping the individual soul is described here as either giving charitable gifts or behaving in a friendly manner, free from any separatist outlook. The impersonalist sometimes accepts a poor individual soul as being daridra-nārāyaṇa, meaning that Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has become poor. This is a contradiction. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in all opulences. He can agree to live with a poor soul or even with an animal, but this does not make Him poor.
There are two Sanskrit words used here, māna and dāna. Māna indicates a superior, and dāna indicates one who gives charitable gifts or is compassionate towards an inferior. We cannot treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an inferior who is dependent on our charitable gifts. When we give charity, it is to a person who is inferior in his material or economic condition. Charity is not given to a rich man. Similarly, it is explicitly stated here that māna, respect, is offered to a superior, and charity is offered to an inferior. The living entities, according to different results of fruitive activities, may become rich or poor, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unchangeable; He is always full in six opulences. Treating a living entity equally does not mean treating him as one would treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Compassion and friendliness do not necessitate falsely elevating someone to the exalted position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We should not, at the same time, misunderstand that the Supersoul situated in the heart of an animal like a hog and the Supersoul situated in the heart of a learned brāhmaṇa are different. The Supersoul in all living entities is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His omnipotency, He can live anywhere, and He can create His Vaikuṇṭha situation everywhere. That is His inconceivable potency. Therefore, when Nārāyaṇa is living in the heart of a hog, He does not become a hog-Nārāyaṇa. He is always Nārāyaṇa and is unaffected by the body of the hog.
hi there i got a question in one of the four vedas the ‘yajurveda’ it states in chapter 32 v.3 that idol worshiping is wrong. in bhagvad gita chapter 7 v.19-24 its states if u do idol worshiping then ur materialistic person. but in the krishna series it states god is everywhere even in objects its cos we see them as material objects thats why we never see it as part of god we need to see the object no through material eyes but through beyond material thinking then we will see gods form on this objects. am confused could u enlighten me please
Hare Krishna! Jai Nitai Gour Hari! Radhe Shyam! Hari Bol! Jai Dvarakadish!
Sandip ji! This may quench your thirst for answer of your question.
Hari Bol Radhe Radhe
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.22
yo māḿ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
santam ātmānam īśvaram
hitvārcāḿ bhajate mauḍhyād
bhasmany eva juhoti saḥ
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — one who; mām — Me; sarveṣu — in all; bhūteṣu — living entities; santam — being present; ātmānam — the Paramātmā; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; hitvā — disregarding; arcām — the Deity; bhajate — worships; mauḍhyāt — because of ignorance; bhasmani — into ashes; eva — only; juhoti — offers oblations; saḥ — he.
TRANSLATION
One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramātmā, is situated in every living entity’s heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations into ashes.
PURPORT
It is stated clearly herein that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His plenary expansion of Supersoul, is present in all living entities. The living entities have 8,400,000 different kinds of bodies, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living in every body both as the individual soul and as the Supersoul. Since the individual soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, in that sense the Lord is living in every body, and, as Supersoul, the Lord is also present as a witness. In both cases the presence of God in every living entity is essential. Therefore persons who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living entity, and everywhere else, are in the mode of ignorance.
If, without this preliminary knowledge of the Lord’s omnipresence, one simply attaches himself to the rituals in a temple, church or mosque, it is as if he were offering butter into ashes rather than into the fire. One offers sacrifices by pouring clarified butter into a fire and chanting Vedic mantras, but even if there are Vedic mantras and all conditions are favorable, if the clarified butter is poured on ashes, then such a sacrifice will be useless. In other words, a devotee should not ignore any living entity. The devotee must know that in every living entity, however insignificant he may be, even in an ant, God is present, and therefore every living entity should be kindly treated and should not be subjected to any violence. In modern civilized society, slaughterhouses are regularly maintained and supported by a certain type of religious principle. But without knowledge of the presence of God in every living entity, any so-called advancement of human civilization, either spiritual or material, is to be understood as being in the mode of ignorance.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.23
dviṣataḥ para-kāye māḿ
mānino bhinna-darśinaḥ
bhūteṣu baddha-vairasya
na manaḥ śāntim ṛcchati
SYNONYMS
dviṣataḥ — of one who is envious; para-kāye — towards the body of another; mām — unto Me; māninaḥ — offering respect; bhinna-darśinaḥ — of a separatist; bhūteṣu — towards living entities; baddha-vairasya — of one who is inimical; na — not; manaḥ — the mind; śāntim — peace; ṛcchati — attains.
TRANSLATION
One who offers Me respect but is envious of the bodies of others and is therefore a separatist never attains peace of mind, because of his inimical behavior towards other living entities.
PURPORT
In this verse, two phrases, bhūteṣu baddha-vairasya (“inimical towards others”) and dviṣataḥ para-kāye (“envious of another’s body”), are significant. One who is envious of or inimical towards others never experiences any happiness. A devotee’s vision, therefore, must be perfect. He should ignore bodily distinctions and should see only the presence of the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and the Lord Himself in His plenary expansion as Supersoul. That is the vision of a pure devotee. The bodily expression of a particular type of living entity is always ignored by the devotee.
It is expressed herein that the Lord is always eager to deliver the conditioned souls, who have been encaged within material bodies. Devotees are expected to carry the message or desire of the Lord to such conditioned souls and enlighten them with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus they may be elevated to transcendental, spiritual life, and the mission of their lives will be successful. Of course this is not possible for living entities who are lower than human beings, but in human society it is feasible that all living entities can be enlightened with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Even living entities who are lower than human can be raised to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by other methods. For example, Śivānanda Sena, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, delivered a dog by feeding him prasāda. Distribution of prasāda, or remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord, even to the ignorant masses of people and to animals, gives such living entities the chance for elevation to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Factually it happened that the same dog, when met by Lord Caitanya at Purī, was liberated from the material condition.
It is especially mentioned here that a devotee must be free from all violence (jīvāhiḿsā). Lord Caitanya has recommended that a devotee not commit violence to any living entity. Sometimes the question is raised that since vegetables also have life and devotees take vegetable foodstuffs, isn’t that violence? Firstly, however, taking some leaves, twigs or fruit from a tree or plant does not kill the plant. Besides that, jīvāhiḿsā means that since every living entity has to pass through a particular type of body according to his past karma, although every living entity is eternal, he should not be disturbed in his gradual evolution. A devotee has to execute the principles of devotional service exactly as they are, and he must know that however insignificant a living entity may be, the Lord is present within him. A devotee must realize this universal presence of the Lord.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.24
aham uccāvacair dravyaiḥ
kriyayotpannayānaghe
naiva tuṣye ‘rcito ‘rcāyāḿ
bhūta-grāmāvamāninaḥ
SYNONYMS
aham — I; ucca-avacaiḥ — with various; dravyaiḥ — paraphernalia; kriyayā — by religious rituals; utpannayā — accomplished; anaghe — O sinless mother; na — not; eva — certainly; tuṣye — am pleased; arcitaḥ — worshiped; arcāyām — in the Deity form; bhūta-grāma — to other living entities; avamāninaḥ — with those who are disrespectful.
TRANSLATION
My dear Mother, even if he worships with proper rituals and paraphernalia, a person who is ignorant of My presence in all living entities never pleases Me by the worship of My Deities in the temple.
PURPORT
There are sixty-four different prescriptions for worship of the Deity in the temple. There are many items offered to the Deity, some valuable and some less valuable. It is prescribed in Bhagavad-gītā: “If a devotee offers Me a small flower, a leaf, some water or a little fruit, I will accept it.” The real purpose is to exhibit one’s loving devotion to the Lord; the offerings themselves are secondary. If one has not developed loving devotion to the Lord and simply offers many kinds of foodstuffs, fruits and flowers without real devotion, the offering will not be accepted by the Lord. We cannot bribe the Personality of Godhead. He is so great that our bribery has no value. Nor has He any scarcity; since He is full in Himself, what can we offer Him? Everything is produced by Him. We simply offer to show our love and gratitude to the Lord.
This gratitude and love for God is exhibited by a pure devotee, who knows that the Lord lives in every living entity. As such, temple worship necessarily includes distribution of prasāda. It is not that one should create a temple in his private apartment or private room, offer something to the Lord, and then eat. Of course, that is better than simply cooking foodstuffs and eating without understanding one’s relationship with the Supreme Lord; people who act in this manner are just like animals. But the devotee who wants to elevate himself to the higher level of understanding must know that the Lord is present in every living entity, and, as stated in the previous verse, one should be compassionate to other living entities. A devotee should worship the Supreme Lord, be friendly to persons who are on the same level and be compassionate to the ignorant. One should exhibit his compassion for ignorant living entities by distributing prasāda. Distribution of prasāda to the ignorant masses of people is essential for persons who make offerings to the Personality of Godhead.
Real love and devotion is accepted by the Lord. Many valuable foodstuffs may be presented to a person, but if the person is not hungry, all such offerings are useless for him. Similarly, we may offer many valuable items to the Deity, but if we have no real sense of devotion and no real sense of the Lord’s presence everywhere, then we are lacking in devotional service; in such a state of ignorance, we cannot offer anything acceptable to the Lord.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.25
arcādāv arcayet tāvad
īśvaraḿ māḿ sva-karma-kṛt
yāvan na veda sva-hṛdi
sarva-bhūteṣv avasthitam
SYNONYMS
arcā-ādau — beginning with worship of the Deity; arcayet — one should worship; tāvat — so long; īśvaram — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mām — Me; sva — his own; karma — prescribed duties; kṛt — performing; yāvat — as long as; na — not; veda — he realizes; sva-hṛdi — in his own heart; sarva-bhūteṣu — in all living entities; avasthitam — situated.
TRANSLATION
Performing his prescribed duties, one should worship the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until one realizes My presence in his own heart and in the hearts of other living entities as well.
PURPORT
Worship of the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is prescribed herewith even for persons who are simply discharging their prescribed duties. There are prescribed duties for the different social classes of men — the brāhmaṇas, the vaiśyas, the kṣatriyas and the śūdras — and for the different āśramas — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. One should worship the Deity of the Lord until one appreciates the presence of the Lord in every living entity. In other words, one should not be satisfied simply by discharging his duties properly; he must realize his relationship and the relationship of all other living entities with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he does not understand this, then even though he discharges his prescribed duties properly, it is to be understood that he is simply laboring without profit.
The word sva-karma-kṛt in this verse is very significant. Sva-karma-kṛt is one who engages in discharging his prescribed duties. It is not that one who has become a devotee of the Lord or who engages in devotional service should give up his prescribed duties. No one should be lazy under the plea of devotional service. One has to execute devotional service according to his prescribed duties. Sva-karma-kṛt means that one should discharge the duties prescribed for him without neglect.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.26
ātmanaś ca parasyāpi
yaḥ karoty antarodaram
tasya bhinna-dṛśo mṛtyur
vidadhe bhayam ulbaṇam
SYNONYMS
ātmanaḥ — of himself; ca — and; parasya — of another; api — also; yaḥ — one who; karoti — discriminates; antarā — between; udaram — the body; tasya — of him; bhinna-dṛśaḥ — having a differential outlook; mṛtyuḥ — as death; vidadhe — I cause; bhayam — fear; ulbaṇam — great.
TRANSLATION
As the blazing fire of death, I cause great fear to whoever makes the least discrimination between himself and other living entities because of a differential outlook.
PURPORT
There are bodily differentiations among all varieties of living entities, but a devotee should not distinguish between one living entity and another on such a basis; a devotee’s outlook should be that both the soul and Supersoul are equally present in all varieties of living entities.
<<>>
Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.27
atha māḿ sarva-bhūteṣu
bhūtātmānaḿ kṛtālayam
arhayed dāna-mānābhyāḿ
maitryābhinnena cakṣuṣā
SYNONYMS
atha — therefore; mām — Me; sarva-bhūteṣu — in all creatures; bhūta-ātmānam — the Self in all beings; kṛta-ālayam — abiding; arhayet — one should propitiate; dāna-mānābhyām — through charity and respect; maitryā — through friendship; abhinnena — equal; cakṣuṣā — by viewing.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, through charitable gifts and attention, as well as through friendly behavior and by viewing all to be alike, one should propitiate Me, who abide in all creatures as their very Self.
PURPORT
It should not be misunderstood that because the Supersoul is dwelling within the heart of a living entity, the individual soul has become equal to Him. The equality of the Supersoul and the individual soul is misconceived by the impersonalist. Here it is distinctly mentioned that the individual soul should be recognized in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The method of worshiping the individual soul is described here as either giving charitable gifts or behaving in a friendly manner, free from any separatist outlook. The impersonalist sometimes accepts a poor individual soul as being daridra-nārāyaṇa, meaning that Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has become poor. This is a contradiction. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in all opulences. He can agree to live with a poor soul or even with an animal, but this does not make Him poor.
There are two Sanskrit words used here, māna and dāna. Māna indicates a superior, and dāna indicates one who gives charitable gifts or is compassionate towards an inferior. We cannot treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an inferior who is dependent on our charitable gifts. When we give charity, it is to a person who is inferior in his material or economic condition. Charity is not given to a rich man. Similarly, it is explicitly stated here that māna, respect, is offered to a superior, and charity is offered to an inferior. The living entities, according to different results of fruitive activities, may become rich or poor, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unchangeable; He is always full in six opulences. Treating a living entity equally does not mean treating him as one would treat the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Compassion and friendliness do not necessitate falsely elevating someone to the exalted position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We should not, at the same time, misunderstand that the Supersoul situated in the heart of an animal like a hog and the Supersoul situated in the heart of a learned brāhmaṇa are different. The Supersoul in all living entities is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His omnipotency, He can live anywhere, and He can create His Vaikuṇṭha situation everywhere. That is His inconceivable potency. Therefore, when Nārāyaṇa is living in the heart of a hog, He does not become a hog-Nārāyaṇa. He is always Nārāyaṇa and is unaffected by the body of the hog.
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