Text 10]
Explanation of Devotional Service
1237
TEXT 10
कर्मनिर्हारमुद्भिः परस्मिन् वा तदर्पणम् ।  
 यजेद्यष्टव्यमिति वा पृथग्भावः स सात्त्विकः ॥१०॥
karma-nirhāram uddiśya 
parasmin vā tad-arpaṇam 
yajed yaṣṭavyam iti vā 
pṛthag-bhāvaḥ sa sāttvikaḥ
karma —fruitive activities;  nirhāram —freeing himself from;  uddiśya —with the purpose of;  parasmin —to the Supreme Personality of Godhead;  vā —or;  tat-arpaṇam —offering the result of activities;  yajet —may worship;  yaṣṭavyam —to be worshiped;  iti —thus;  vā —or;  pṛthak-bhāvaḥ —separatist;  saḥ —he;  sāttvikaḥ —in the mode of goodness.
TRANSLATION
When a devotee worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offers the results of his activities in order to free himself from the inebrieties of fruitive activities, his devotion is in the mode of goodness.
PURPORT
The  brāhmaṇas ,  kṣatriyas ,  vaiśyas  and  śūdras , along with the  brahma-cārīs ,  gṛhasthas ,  vānaprasthas  and  sannyāsīs , are the members of the eight divisions of  varṇas  and  āśramas , and they have their respective duties to perform for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When such activities are performed and the results are offered to the Supreme Lord, they are called  karmārpaṇam , duties performed for the satisfaction of the Lord. If there is any inebriety or fault, it is atoned for by this offering process. But if this offering process is in the mode of goodness rather than in pure devotion, then the interest is different. The four  āśramas  and the four  varṇas  act for some benefit in accordance with their personal interests. Therefore such activities are in the mode of goodness; they cannot be counted in the category of pure devotion. Pure devotional service as described by Rūpa Gosvāmī is free from all material desires.  Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam . There can be no excuse for personal or material interest. Devotional activities should be transcendental to fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation. Pure devotional service is transcendental to all material qualities.