256 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 7

whatever rituals are performed. they are called asat, nonpermanent.
They are therefore usless both in this life and the next.

Kings like Maharaja Ambarisa and many other rajarsis who were pure
devotees of the Lord simply passed their time in the service of the
Supreme Lord. When a pure devotee executes some service through the
agency of another person, he should not be criticized, for his activities
are meant for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. A devotee may have
a priest perform some karma-kanda, and the priest may not be a pure
Vaisnava. but because the devotee wants to please the Supreme Lord. he
should not be criticized. The word apiirva is very significant. The resul-
tant actions of karma are called apiirva. When we act piously or im-
piously. immediate results do not ensue. We therefore wait for the
results. which are called apiirva. The results are manifest in the future.
Even the smartas accept this apirva. Pure devotees simply act for the
pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: therefore the results of
their activities are spiritual, or permanent. They are not like those of the

karmis, which are nonpermanent. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita
(4.23):

gata-sargasya muktasya
jJridnavasthita-cetasah

yajnayacaratah karma
samagrarm praviliyate

~The work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature
and who is fully situated in transcendental knowledge merges entirely
into transcendence.”

A devotee is always free from material contamination. He is fully situ-
ated in knowledge, and therefore his sacrifices are intended for the
satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 7

eda FAIA TaTATAT Aa aa Tay
MAGVTSTTTAT saaated aaA ATA TTA Te ETAT
