Prayers by the Personified Vedas
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ready suffering tribulation in this life, and because they are not perfect in self-realization, they will be plagued with further tribulation in the next life. Despite all endeavors to attain perfection, such  yogīs , contaminated by desires for sense gratification, will continue to suffer in this life and in the next.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākur remarks in this connection that if  sannyāsīs  and persons in the renounced order of life who have left their homes for self-realization do not engage themselves in the devotional service of the Lord but become attracted by philanthropic work, such as opening educational institutions, hospitals, or even monasteries, churches or temples of demigods, they find only trouble from such engagements, not only in this life but in the next.  Sannyāsīs  who do not take advantage of this life to realize Krṣṇa simply waste their time and energy in activities outside the jurisdiction of the renounced order of life. A devotee's attempt to engage his energies in such activities as constructing a Viṣṇu temple is, however, never wasted. Such engagements are called  Krṣṇārthe akhila-ceṣṭā , variegated activities performed to please Krṣṇa. A philanthropist's opening a school building and a devotee's constructing a temple are not on the same level. Although a philanthropist's opening an educational institution may be pious activity, it comes under the laws of  karma , whereas constructing a temple for Viṣṇu is devotional service.
Devotional service is never within the jurisdiction of the law of  karma . It is stated in the  Bhagavad-gītā  that devotees transcend the reaction of the three modes of material nature and stand on the platform of Brahman realization:  brahma-bhūyāya kalpate . The  Bhagavad-gītā  says,  sa guṇān samatityaitān brahma-bhūyāya: kalpate : devotees of the Personality of Godhead transcend all the reactions of the three modes of material nature and are situated on the transcendental Brahman platform. The devotees are liberated both in this life and in the next life. Any work done in this material world for Yajña or Viṣṇu or Krṣṇa is considered to be liberated work, but without connection with Acyuta, the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no possibility of stopping the resultant actions of the law of  karma . The life of Krṣṇa consciousness is the life of liberation. The conclusion is that a devotee, by the grace of the Lord, is liberated, both in this life and the next, whereas  karmīs ,  jñānīs  and  yogīs  are never liberated, either in this life or in the next.
The personified  Vedas  continued: "Dear Lord, anyone who, by Your grace, has understood the glories of Your lotus feet is callous to material happiness and distress. The material pangs are inevitable as long as we are existing within the material world, but a devotee does not divert his atten-