nartho 'rthayopakalpate
narthasya dharmaikantasya
kamo labhaya hi smrtah
SYNONYMS
dharmasya -- occupational engagement; hi -- certainly; apavargyasya -- ultimate liberation; na -- not; arthah -- end; arthaya -- for material gain; upakalpate -- is meant for; na -- neither; arthasya -- of material gain; dharma-eka-antasya -- for one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service; kamah -- sense gratification; labhaya -- attainment of; hi -- exactly; smrtah -- is described by the great sages.
TRANSLATION
All
occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation.
They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according
to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service
should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.
PURPORT
We
have already discussed that pure devotional service to the Lord is
automatically followed by perfect knowledge and detachment from material
existence. But there are others who consider that all kinds of
different occupational engagements, including those of religion, are
meant for material gain. The general tendency of any ordinary man in any
part of the world is to gain some material profit in exchange for
religious or any other occupational service. Even in the Vedic
literatures, for all sorts of religious performances an allurement of
material gain is offered, and most people are attracted by such
allurements or blessings of religiosity. Why are such so-called men of
religion allured by material gain? Because material gain can enable one
to fulfill desires, which in turn satisfy sense gratification. This
cycle of occupational engagements includes so-called religiosity
followed by material gain and material gain followed by fulfillment of
desires. Sense gratification is the general way for all sorts of fully
occupied men. But in the statement of Suta Gosvami, as per the verdict of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, this is nullified by the present sloka.One should not engage himself in any sort of occupational service for material gain only. Nor should material gain be utilized for sense gratification. How material gain should be utilized is described as follows.
