Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 15
Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva
देवानृषीन् नृभूतानि पितृनात्मानमन्वहम् । स्ववृत्त्यागतवित्तेन यजेत पुरुषं पृथक् ॥ १५ ॥
devān ṛṣīn nṛ-bhūtāni pitṝn ātmānam anvaham sva-vṛttyāgata-vittena yajeta puruṣaṁ pṛthak
Every day, one should worship the Supreme Being who is situated in everyone’s heart, and on this basis one should separately worship the demigods, the saintly persons, ordinary human beings and living entities, one’s forefathers and one’s self. In this way one is able to worship the Supreme Being in the core of everyone’s heart.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a gṛhastha should daily honor demigods, sages, humans, other beings, forefathers, and also care for the self—using honestly earned wealth—thereby worshiping the Supreme Person through properly directed service.
He presents these as harmonized duties performed as offerings that culminate in worship of the Supreme Person; when done with the right consciousness and rightful earnings, they support—not replace—devotion to Bhagavān.
Earn ethically, set aside a portion for service and charity, respect teachers and saints, care for family and society, practice compassion to animals and all beings, remember ancestors with gratitude, and maintain health and discipline—seeing these as devotional offerings to God.