18
Śrī Īśopaniṣad
Such a devotee can properly discharge the duty of human life. Those who do not do so are eating only sins, and thus will be subjected to the different types of distress which are the result of the various sins.
The root of sin is deliberate disobedience to the laws of Nature, through not recognizing the proprietorship of the Lord. Disobedience to the laws of Nature or disobedience to the order of the Lord will bring ruin to the human being. On the other hand, if one is sober and knows the laws of Nature, without being influenced by unnecessary attachment or abhorrence, he is sure to be recognized again by the Lord, and thus become eligible for going back to Godhead, back to the eternal Home.
MANTRA TWO
कुर्वन्नेवेह कर्माणि जिजीविषेच्छतः समाः । एवं त्वयि नान्यथेतोऽस्ति न कर्म लिप्यते नरे ॥ २ ॥
kurvann eveha karmāṇi jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ evaṁ tvayi nānyatheto'sti na karma lipyate nare.
kurvan—doing continuously; eva—thus; iha—during this span of life; karmāṇi—work; jijīviṣet—one should desire to live; śatam—one hundred; samāḥ—years; evam—so living; tvayi—unto you; na—no; anyathā—alternative; itaḥ—from this path; asti—there is; na—not; karma—work; lipyate—can be bound; nare—unto a man.
TRANSLATION
One may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on doing work in that way, because that sort of work will