Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 5: The Creative Impetus | Chapter 5: Lord Rishabhadeva's Teachings to His Sons |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.5.15
putrāmś ca śishyāmś ca nripo gurur vā
mal-loka-kāmo mad-anugrahārthah
ittham vimanyur anuśishyād ataj-jñān
na yojayet karmasu karma-mūdhān
kam yojayan manujo 'rtham labheta
nipātayan nashta-driśam hi garte
SYNONYMS
putrān — the sons; ca — and; śishyān — the disciples; ca — and; nripah — the king; guruh — the spiritual master; vā — or; mat-loka-kāmah — desiring to go to My abode; mat-anugraha-arthah — thinking that to achieve My mercy is the aim of life; ittham — in this manner; vimanyuh — free from anger; anuśishyāt — should instruct; a-tat-jñān — bereft of spiritual knowledge; na — not; yojayet — should engage; karmasu — in fruitive activities; karma-mūdhān — simply engaged in pious or impious activities; kam — what; yojayan — engaging; manu-jah — a man; artham — benefit; labheta — can achieve; nipātayan — causing to fall; nashta-driśam — one who is already bereft of his transcendental sight; hi — indeed; garte — in the hole.
TRANSLATION
If one is serious about going back home, back to Godhead, he must consider the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the summum bonum and chief aim of life. If he is a father instructing his sons, a spiritual master instructing his disciples, or a king instructing his citizens, he must instruct them as I have advised. Without being angry, he should continue giving instructions, even if his disciple, son or citizen is sometimes unable to follow his order. Ignorant people who engage in pious and impious activities should be engaged in devotional service by all means. They should always avoid fruitive activity. If one puts into the bondage of karmic activity his disciple, son or citizen who is bereft of transcendental vision, how will one profit? It is like leading a blind man to a dark well and causing him to fall in.
PURPORT
It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.26):
"Let not the wise disrupt the minds of the ignorant who are attached to fruitive action. They should be encouraged not to refrain from work, but to work in the spirit of devotion."
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness