Nectar from Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 11, text 55.

[Guest guest]

~*~*mat-karma-krn mat-paramo, mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah,~*~*

~*~*nirvairah sarva-bhutesu, yah sa mam eti pandava~*~*

 

"My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from

the contamination of fruitive activities and mental speculation,he who

works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is

friendly to every living entity----he certainly comes to Me."

 

Purport, first page, by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

 

"Anyone who wants to approach the supreme of all the Personalities of

Godhead, on the Krsnaloka planet in the spiritual sky, and be intimately

connected with the Supreme Personality, Krsna, must take this formula, as

stated by the Supreme Himself.

Therefore, this verse is considered to be the essence of Bhagavad-Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita is a book directed to the conditioned souls, who are

engaged in the material world with the purpose of lording it over nature

and who do not know of the real, spiritual life.The Bhagavad Gita is

meant to show how one can understand his spiritual existence and his

eternal relationship with the supreme spiritual personality and to teach

one how to go back home, back to Godhead. Now here is the verse which

clearly explains the process by which one can attain success in his

spiritual activity: devotional service.

*~*~*~*~*~*

As far as work is concerned, one should transfer his energy entirely to

Krsna conscious activities. As stated in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu

(2.255),

 

~*~*anasaktasya visayan,yatharham upayunjatah,

nirbandha krsna-sambandhe, yuktam vairagyam ucyate* ~*~

No work should be done by any man except in relationship to Krsna.

This is called 'krsna-karma'. One may be engaged in various activities,

but one should not be attached to the result of his work; the result

should be done only for Him. For example, one may be engaged in business,

but to transform that activity into Krsna consciousness, one has to do

business for Krsna. If Krsna is the proprietor of the business, then

Krsna should enjoy the profit of the business.

 

If a business man is in possession of thousands and thousands of

dollars, and if he has to offer all this to Krsna, he can do it. This is

work for Krsna. Instead of constructing a big building for his sense

gratification, he can construct a nice temple for Krsna, and he can

install the Deity of Krsna and arrange for the Deity's service, as is

outlined in the authorized books on devotional service.This is all

'krsna-karma'. One should not be attached to the result of his work, but

the result should be offered to Krsna, and one should accept as prasadam

the remnants of offerings to Krsna. If one constructs a very big building

for Krsna and installs the Deity of Krsna, one is not prohibited from

living there, but it is understood that the proprietor of the building is

Krsna. That is called Krsna consciousness.

 

If however, one is not able to construct a temple for Krsna, one can

engage himself in cleansing the temple of Krsna; that is also

'krsna-karma'. One can cultivate a garden. Anyone who has land---in

India, at least, any poor man has a certain amount of land---can utilize

that for Krsna by growing flowers to offer Him. One can sow Tulasi

plants, because Tulasi leaves are very important and Krsna has

recommended this in Bhagavad-Gita. "patram puspam phalam toyam". Krsna

desires that one offer Him either a leaf, or a flower, or fruit, or a

little water---by such an offering He is satisfied. This leaf especially

refers to the tulasi. So one can sow tulasi and pour water on the plant.

Thus, even the poorest man can engage in the service of Krsna. These are

some of the examples of how one can engage in working for Krsna."

 

______________

GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!

Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!

Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:

http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.