BHAGAVAD-GITA 12:10

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 12:10

 

abhyase 'py asamartho 'si

mat-karma-paramo bhava

mad-artham api karmani

kurvan siddhim avapsyasi

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

abhyase--in practice; api--even if; asamarthah--unable; asi--you are;

mat-karma--My work; paramah--dedicated to; bhava--become;

mat-artham--for My sake; api--even; karmani--work; kurvan--performing;

siddhim--perfection; avapsyasi--you will achieve.

 

TRANSLATION

 

If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try

to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect

stage.

 

PURPORT

 

One who is not able even to practice the regulative principles of

bhakti-yoga, under the guidance of a spiritual master, can still be

drawn to this perfectional stage by working for the Supreme Lord. How

to do this work has already been explained in the fifty-fifth verse of

the Eleventh Chapter. One should be sympathetic to the propagation of

Krsna consciousness. There are many devotees who are engaged in the

propagation of Krsna consciousness, and they require help. So, even if

one cannot directly practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga,

he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital,

organization and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to

stay, some capital to use, some labor and some organization to expand,

so the same is required in the service of Krsna. The only difference

is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same

work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krsna, and

that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help

in building an office or temple for propagating Krsna consciousness.

Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of

activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one

cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can

still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Krsna consciousness. This

voluntary service to the cause of Krsna consciousness will help one to

rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.