Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.15

dharmartham api neheta

yatrartham vadhano dhanam

anihanihamanasya

mahaher iva vrittida

SYNONYMS

dharma-artham -- in religion or economic development; api -- indeed; na -- not; iheta -- should try to obtain; yatra-artham -- just to maintain the body and soul together; va -- either; adhanah -- one who has no wealth; dhanam -- money; aniha -- the desirelessness; anihamanasya -- of a person who does not endeavor even to earn his livelihood; maha-aheh -- the great serpent known as the python; iva -- like; vritti-da -- which obtains its livelihood without endeavor.

TRANSLATION

Even if a man is poor, he should not endeavor to improve his economic condition just to maintain his body and soul together or to become a famous religionist. Just as a great python, although lying in one place, not endeavoring for its livelihood, gets the food it needs to maintain body and soul, one who is desireless also obtains his livelihood without endeavor.

PURPORT

Human life is simply meant for developing Krishna consciousness. One need not even try to earn a livelihood to maintain body and soul together. This is illustrated here by the example of the great python, which lies in one place, never going here and there to earn a livelihood to maintain itself, and yet is maintained by the grace of the Lord. As advised by Narada Muni (Bhag. 1.5.18), tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovidah: one should simply endeavor to increase his Krishna consciousness. One should not desire to do anything else, even to earn his livelihood. There are many, many examples of this attitude. Madhavendra Puri, for instance, would never go to anyone to ask for food. Sukadeva Gosvami has also said, kasmad bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadandhan. Why should one approach a person who is blind with wealth? Rather, one should depend on Krishna, and He will give everything. All the members of our Krishna consciousness movement, whether they be grihasthas or sannyasis, should try to spread the Krishna consciousness movement with determination, and Krishna will supply all necessities. The process of ajagara-vritti, the means of livelihood of a python, is very much appreciated in this regard. Even though one may be very poor, he should simply try to advance in Krishna consciousness and not endeavor to earn his livelihood.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness