36 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 6

TRANSLATION

Religion, economic development and sense gratification —these
are described in the Vedas as tri-varga, or three ways to salvation.
Within these three categories are education and self-realization;
ritualistic ceremonies performed according to Vedic injunction;
logic; the science of law and order; and the various means of earn-
ing one’s livelihood. These are the external subject matters of
study in the Vedas, and therefore I consider them material.
However, I consider surrender to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu to
be transcendental.

PURPORT

These instructions of Prahlada Maharaja stress the transcendental

position of devotional service. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (14.26):

mam ca yo "vyabhicdrena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhiydya kalpate

“One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in
any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and
thus comes to the level of Brahman.” One who fully engages in the devo-
tional service of the Lord is immediately raised to the transcendental
position, which is the brahma-bhita stage. Any education or activity not
on the brahma-bhita platform, the platform of self-realization, is con-
sidered to be material, and Prahlada Maharaja says that anything ma-
terial cannot be the Absolute Truth, for the Absolute Truth is on the
spiritual platform. This is also confirmed by Lord Krsna in Bhagavad-
gita (2.45), where He says, traigunya-visayad veda nistraigunyo
bhavarjuna: “The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes
of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental
to all of them.” To act on the material platform, even if one’s activities
are sanctioned by the Vedas, is not the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate
goal of life is to stay on the spiritual platform, fully surrendered to the
parama-purusa, the supreme person. This is the object of the human
mission. In summary, the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and injunctions
