260
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 8, Ch. 16]
notpādayed yadi ratiṁ śrama eva hi kevalam
“The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.” ( Bhāg.  1.2.8) If one is not interested in satisfying Lord Viṣṇu, Vāsudeva, all his so-called auspicious activities are fruitless.  Moghāśā mogha-karmāṇo mogha-jñānā vicetasaḥ : because he is bewildered, he is baffled in his hopes, baffled in his activities, and baffled in his knowledge. In this regard, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī remarks,  napuṁsakam anapuṁsakenetyādinaikatvam . One cannot equate the potent and the impotent. Among modern Māyāvādīs it has become fashionable to say that whatever one does or whatever path one follows is all right. But these are all foolish statements. Here it is forcefully affirmed that this is the only method for success in life.  Īśvara-tarpaṇaṁ vinā sarvam eva viphalam . Unless Lord Viṣṇu is satisfied, all of one’s pious activities, ritualistic ceremonies and  yajñas  are simply for show and have no value. Unfortunately, foolish people do not know the secret of success.  Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum . They do not know that real self-interest ends in pleasing Lord Viṣṇu.
TEXT 62
तस्मादेतद्वतं भद्रे प्रयता श्रद्धयाचर । भगवान्परितुष्टस्ते वरानाशु विधास्यति ॥६२॥
tasmād etad vrataṁ bhadre prayatā śraddhayācara bhagavān parituṣṭas te varān āśu vidhāsyati
tasmāt—therefore; etat—this; vratam—observance of a vrata ceremony; bhadre—my dear gentle lady; prayatā—by observing rules and regulations; śraddhayā—with faith; ācara—execute; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parituṣṭaḥ—being very satisfied; te—unto you; varān—benedictions; āśu—very soon; vidhāsyati—will bestow.