326 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 19

religion is that by which one becomes fully conscious of the existence of God, His
form, name, qualities, pastimes, abode and all-pervasive features. When every-
thing is completely known, that is the perfection of Vedic knowledge. The fulfill-
ment of Vedic knowledge is systematic knowledge of the characteristics of God.
This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (15.15): vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. The
aim of Vedic knowledge is to understand God. Those who are actually following
Vedic knowledge and searching after God cannot commit sinful activities against
the Supreme Lord's order. However, in this age of Kali, although men profess to
belong to so many different kinds of religion, most of them commit sinful ac-
tivities against the orders of the Vedic scriptures. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
therefore says herein: veda-nisiddha papa kare, dharma nahi gane. In this age,
men may profess a religion, but they actually do not follow the principles. Instead,
they commit all kinds of sin.

TEXT 147

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dharmdacari-madhye bahuta ‘karma-nistha’
koti-karma-nistha-madhye eka ‘jfdni’ srestha

SYNONYMS

dharma-acari-madhye—among persons who actually follow the Vedic prin-
ciples or religious system; bahuta—many of them; karma-nistha—attracted to
fruitive activities; koti-karma-nistha-madhye—among millions of such performers
of fruitive activities according to Vedic principles; eka—one; jfidni—wise man;
srestha—the chief.

TRANSLATION

“Among the followers of Vedic knowledge, most are following the process
of fruitive activity and distinguishing between good and bad work. Out of
many such sincere fruitive actors, there may be one who is actually wise.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that the word karma-nistha refers
to one who aspires to enjoy the results of his good work and pious activity. Some
followers of Vedic principles offer everything to the Absolute Truth and do not
aspire to enjoy the results of their pious actions. These are also considered among
the karma-nisthas. Sometimes we see pious men earn money with great hardship
and then spend the money for some pious cause by opening public charities,
