Text 47] Instructions for Civilized Human Beings 255

pravrttam—inclination for material enjoyment; ca—and; nivrttam —
cessation of material enjoyment; ca—and; dvi-vidham—these two
varieties; karma—of activities; vaidikam—recommended in the Vedas;
Gvartate—one travels up and down through the cycle of samsdra;
pravrttena—by an inclination for enjoying material activities;
nivrttena—but by ceasing such activities; asnute—one enjoys;
amrtam—eternal life.

TRANSLATION

According to the Vedas, there are two kinds of activities—
pravrtti and nivrtti. Pravrtti activities involve raising oneself from
a lower to a higher condition of materialistic life, whereas nivrtti
means the cessation of material desire. Through pravrtti activities
one suffers from material entanglement, but by nivrtti activities
one is purified and becomes fit to enjoy eternal, blissful life.

PURPORT

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (16.7), pravrttim ca nivrttim ca jana
na vidur dsurdh: the asuras, nondevotees, cannot distinguish between
pravrtti and nivrtti. Whatever they like they do. Such persons think
themselves independent of the strong material nature, and therefore
they are irresponsible and do not care to act piously. Indeed, they do not
distinguish between pious and impious activity. Bhakti, of course, does
not depend on pious or impious activity. As stated in Srimad-
Bhagavatam (1.2.6):

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati

“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which
men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord.
Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order
to completely satisfy the self.” Nonetheless, those who act piously have a
better chance to become devotees. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita
(7.16), catur-vidha bhajante mam janah sukrtino ’rjuna: “O Arjuna,
