22 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 1
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gita (3.9) Lord Krsna advises, yajnidrthat karmano
‘nyatra loko *yamm karma-bandhanah: “Work done as a sacrifice for
Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material
world.”” Generally, everyone is attracted to hard labor for becoming
happy in this material world, but although various activities are going on
all over the world simply for the sake of happiness, unfortunately only
problems are being created from such fruitive activities. Therefore it is
advised that active persons engage in activities of Krsna consciousness,
which are called yajria, because then they will gradually come to the plat-
form of devotional service. Yajria means Lord Visnu, the yajfia-purusa,
the enjoyer of all sacrifices (bhoktdrarh yajnia-tapasém sarva-loka-
mahesvaram). The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the en-
joyer, and therefore if we begin our activities for His satisfaction, we will
gradually lose our taste for material activities.
Sita Gosvami declared to the great assembly of sages at Naimisaranya:
atah pumbhir dvija-srestha
varndsrama-vibhagasah
svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam
“‘O best among the twiceborn, it is concluded that the highest perfection
one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [dharma] accord-
ing to caste divisions and order of life, is to please the Lord Hari.”
(Bhag. 1.2.13) According to Vedic principles, everyone must act accord-
ing to his classification as brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, Sidra,
brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or sannydsi. Everyone should
progress toward perfection by acting in such a way that Krsna will be
pleased (sarsiddhir hari-tosanam). One cannot please Krsna by sitting
idly; one must act according to the directions of the spiritual master for
the sake of pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and then one
will gradually come to the stage of pure devotional service. As confirmed
in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12):
naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitamn
na Sobhate jrdnam alam nirafjanam
