1136 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 25
This means that a devotee does not give any importance to the ultimate
goal of the karmis and jiidnis. The ultimate goal of the karmis is promotion
to the heavenly kingdom, and the ultimate goal of the jndnis is merging
into the Brahman effulgence. Of course the janis are superior to the
karmis, as confirmed by Lord Caitanya: koti-karmanistha-madhye eka
‘jndni’ srestha. “One jndni, or impersonalist, is better than many thousands
of fruitive actors.” (Ce. Madhya 19.147) Therefore a devotee never enters
upon the path of karma, or elevation by fruitive activities. Narada Muni
took compassion upon King Pracinabarhisat when he saw the King engaged
in fruitive activity. In comparison to mundane workers, however, those
who are trying to be elevated to the higher planetary systems by performing
yajas are undoubtedly superior. In pure devotional service, however, both
karma and jnana are considered to be bewildering features of the illusory
energy.
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Sreyas tvam katamad rajan
karmanatmana thase
duhkha-hanih sukhavaptih
sreyas tan neha cesyate
Sreyah—ultimate benediction; tvam—you; katamat—what is that; rajan—
O King; karmana—by fruitive activities; dtmanah—of the soul; ihase—you
desire; duhkha-hanih—disappearance of all distresses; sukha-avaptih—
attainment of all happiness; sreyah— benediction; tat—that; na—never; iha—
in this connection; ca—and; is yate—is available.
TRANSLATION
Narada Muni asked King Pracinabarhisat: My dear King, what do you
desire to achieve by performing these fruitive activities? The chief aim of
life is to get rid of all miseries and enjoy happiness, but these two things
cannot be realized by fruitive activity.
PURPORT
In this material world there is a great illusion which covers real intelli-
gence. A man in the mode of passion wants to work very hard to derive
