98 Raja-vidya: The King of Knowledge

People are actually confused as to what is work
(karma) and what is not work (akarma). Krsna here
indicates that even great scholars (kavayah) are
bewildered about the nature of work. It is necessary
to know which activities are genuine and which are
not, which are bona fide and which are not, which
are prohibited and which are not. If we understand
the principle of work, we can become free from
material bondage. It is therefore necessary to know
how to conduct work so that when we leave the
material body we will no longer be forced to take
another but will be free to enter into the spiritual
sky. The principle of proper work is clearly stated
by Sri Krsna in the last verse of the Eleventh Chapter:

mat-karma-krn mat-paramo
mad-bhak tah sanga-varjitah
nirvairah sarva-bhutesu
yah sa mam eti pandava

“My dear Arjuna, one who is engaged in My pure
devotional service, free from the contamination of
previous activities and from mental speculation, who
is friendly to every living entity, certainly comes to
Me.” (Bg. 11.55)

This one verse is sufficient for understanding the
essence of Bhagavad-gita. One must be engaged in
‘My work.” And what is this work? It is indicated -
in the last instruction in Bhagavad-gita in which Krsna
tells Arjuna to surrender unto Him (Bg. 18.66).

By the example of Arjuna we are to learn that we
should only perform work which is sanctioned by
Krsna. This is the mission of human life, but we do
