BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:7

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:7

 

yas tv indriyani manasa

niyamyarabhate 'rjuna

karmendriyaih karma-yogam

asaktah sa visisyate

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

yah--one who; tu--but; indriyani--the senses; manasa--by the mind;

niyamya--regulating; arabhate--begins; arjuna--O Arjuna;

karma-indriyaih--by the active sense organs; karma-yogam--devotion;

asaktah--without attachment; sah--he; visisyate--is by far the better.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active

senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Krsna consciousness]

without attachment, he is by far superior.

 

PURPORT

 

Instead of becoming a pseudo transcendentalist for the sake of wanton

living and sense enjoyment, it is far better to remain in one's own

business and execute the purpose of life, which is to get free from

material bondage and enter into the kingdom of God. The prime

svartha-gati, or goal of self-interest, is to reach Visnu. The whole

institution of varna and asrama is designed to help us reach this goal

of life. A householder can also reach this destination by regulated

service in Krsna consciousness. For self-realization, one can live a

controlled life, as prescribed in the sastras, and continue carrying

out his business without attachment, and in that way make progress. A

sincere person who follows this method is far better situated than the

false pretender who adopts show-bottle spiritualism to cheat the

innocent public. A sincere sweeper in the street is far better than

the charlatan meditator who meditates only for the sake of making a

living.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.