932 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22
cation and brothels for sex. Sex, however, is allowed in married life
only, and prostitution is prohibited because all our activities are ultimately
aimed at liberation, at freedom from the clutches of material existence. It
is advised therefore that one not act in a way that will obstruct the regular
process of advancement in spiritual life and liberation. The Vedic process
of sense gratification is therefore planned in such a way that one can
economically develop and enjoy sense gratification and yet ultimately
attain liberation. Vedic civilization offers us all knowledge in the sastras,
and if we live a regulated life under the direction of sastras and guru, all our
material desires will be fulfilled; at the same time we will be able to go for-
ward to liberation.
TEXT 35
S
way ata card srafaaagag |
x .
Faatsat ad fed HareTTTaTT: |34l!
tatrapi moksa evartha
atyantikatayesyate
traivargyo ’rtho yato nityam
krtanta-bhaya-samyutah

tatra—there; api—also; moksah—liberation; eva—certainly; arthe—for the
matter of; atyantikataya—most important; isyate—taken in that way;
traivargyah—the three others, namely, religion, economic development
and sense gratification; arthah—interest; yatah—wherefrom; nityam—regu-
larly ; krtanta—death; bhaya— fear; samyutah—attached.

TRANSLATION

Out of the four principles—namely, religion, economic development,
sense gratification and liberation—liberation has to be taken very seriously.
The other three are subject to destruction by the stringent law of nature—
death.

PURPORT

Moksa, or liberation, has to be taken very seriously, even at the sacrifice
of the other three items. As advised by Suita Gosvami in the beginning of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, religious principles are not based on success in econom-
ic development. Because we are very attached to sense gratification, we
go to God, to the temple or churches, for some economic reasons. Then
again, economic development does not mean sense gratification. Every-
thing should be adjusted in such a way that we attain liberation. Therefore
