120
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 5, Ch. 3]
Such engagement is meant for our benefit. If we engage our money in constructing a gorgeous temple, we are freed from the reactions of our endeavors. This is for our benefit. In addition, if we attempt to do something nice for the Supreme Lord, He is pleased with us and gives us His benediction. In conclusion, the gorgeous arrangements are not for the Lord's sake but for our own. If we somehow or other receive blessings and benedictions from the Lord, our consciousness can be purified and we can become eligible to return home, back to Godhead.
TEXT 9
तद्यथा बालिशानां स्वयमात्मनः श्रेयः परमविदुषां परमपरमपुरुष ग्रकर्ष- करुणया स्वमहिमानं चापवर्गाख्यमुपकल्पयिष्यन् स्वयं नापचित एवेतरवदिहोपलक्षितः ॥ ९ ॥
tad yathā bāliśānām svayam ātmanaḥ śreyaḥ param aviduṣām parama- parama-puruṣa prakarṣa-karuṇayā sva-mahimānam cāpavargākhyam upakalpayiṣyan svayam nāpacita evetaravad ihopalakṣitaḥ.
tat—that; yathā—as; bāliśānām—of the fools; svayam—by Yourself; ātmanaḥ—own; śreyaḥ—welfare; param—ultimate; aviduṣām—of persons who do not know; parama-parama-puruṣa—O Lord of lords; prakarṣa-karuṇayā—by abundant causeless mercy; sva-mahimānam— Your personal glory; ca—and; apavarga-ākhyam—called apavarga (liberation); upakalpayiṣyan—desiring to give; svayam—personally; na apacitaḥ—not properly worshiped; eva—although; itara-vat—like an ordinary person; iha—here; upalakṣitaḥ—(You are) present and seen (by us).
TRANSLATION
O Lord of lords, we are completely ignorant of the execution of dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, the process of liberation, because we do not actually know the goal of life. You have appeared per- sonally before us like a person soliciting worship, but actually You are present here just so we can see You. You have come out of Your abundant and causeless mercy in order to serve our purpose, our