Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11
Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them
यदा आशिष आशास्य मां भजेत स्वकर्मभि: । तं रज:प्रकृतिं विद्यात् हिंसामाशास्य तामसम् ॥ ११ ॥
yadā āśiṣa āśāsya māṁ bhajeta sva-karmabhiḥ taṁ rajaḥ-prakṛtiṁ vidyāt hiṁsām āśāsya tāmasam
When a person worships Me by his prescribed duties with the hope of gaining material benefit, his nature should be understood to be in passion, and one who worships Me with the desire to commit violence against others is in ignorance.
FAQs
This verse says that worship of the Lord performed with a desire for rewards, even while doing one’s duties, is influenced by rajas (passion) and is not yet pure devotion.
Because when worship is performed with the intention to gain the power to harm others (hiṁsā), it is rooted in darkness and cruelty, which are symptoms of tamas.
Examine your motives in spiritual practice: reduce reward-seeking and completely reject harmful intentions, cultivating service to God for purification and love rather than control or gain.