350 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 9

quantity of independence, and by misuse of this minute independence,
the nondevotees commit offense after offense, to both the Lord and His
pure devotees engaged in missionary work. As a result of such acts, they
become as barren as an alkaline field, where there is no strength to
produce.

TEXT 13
gard fafrredftceacea-
aaa arate oferta a |

aad WTA AfeRaai
aaistta: aerate aat 2 all

pumsam ato vividha-karmabhir adhvarad yair
danena cogra-tapasa paricaryaya ca

aradhanam bhagavatas tava sat-kriyartho
dharmo’rpitah karhicid mriyate na yatra

pumsam—of the people; atah—therefore; vividha-karmabhih—by various
fruitive activities; adhvara-addyaih—by performance of Vedic rituals;
danena—by charities; ca—and; ugra—very hard; tapasa—austerity; pari-
caryaya—by transcendental service; ca—also; aradhanam—worship; bhaga-
vatah—of the Personality of Godhead; tava—Your; sat-kriya-arthah—
simply for pleasing Your Lordship; dharmah—religion; arpitah—so offered;
karhicit—at any time; mriyate—vanquishes; na—never; yatra—there.

TRANSLATION

But the pious activities of the people, such as performance of Vedic
rituals, charity, austere penances, and transcendental service, performed
with a view to worship You and satisfy You by offering You the fruitive
results, are also beneficial. Such acts of religion never go in vain.

PURPORT

Absolute devotional service, conducted in nine different spiritual
activities—hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, praying, etc.—
does not always appeal to people with a pompous nature; they are more
attracted by the Vedic superficial rituals and other costly performances
of social religious shows. But the process according to the Vedic
injunctions is that the fruits of all pious activities should be offered to the
Supreme Lord. In Bhagavad-gitaé, (Bg. 9.27), the Lord demands that
