Shloka 4
Dharma, Purity, and the Inner Purpose of the Vedas
Karma-kāṇḍa Reoriented to Bhakti
दर्शितोऽयं मयाचारो धर्ममुद्वहतां धुरम् ॥ ४ ॥
darśito ’yaṁ mayācāro dharmam udvahatāṁ dhuram
لقد كشفتُ هذا النهج في العيش لمن يحملون عبءَ مبادئ الدَّرْمَا الدنيوية.
Ordinary religious principles, prescribing innumerable rules, regulations and prohibitions, are undoubtedly a great burden for those bereft of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.11) it is stated, bhūrīṇi bhūri-karmāṇi śrotavyāni vibhāgaśaḥ: there are countless religious scriptures in the world prescribing countless religious duties. The authorized scriptures are those spoken by the Lord Himself or His representatives, as stated in this verse. In the last chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) Lord Kṛṣṇa states, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: one should give up the troublesome burden of mundane piety and directly take to the loving service of the Lord, in which everything is simplified. Lord Kṛṣṇa also states in Bhagavad-gītā (9.2) , su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam: the bhakti-yoga process, which depends completely upon the mercy of the Lord, is very joyful and easily performed. Similarly, Locana dāsa Ṭhākura sings,
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord Himself reveals the standard of conduct that sustains dharma, emphasizing that true righteousness is aligned with divine instruction.
In the Uddhava Gītā section, Krishna instructs Uddhava on the principles of righteous living and spiritual practice; here He concludes that the conduct He described is meant to uphold the burden of dharma.
Adopt steady ethical discipline—truthfulness, restraint, responsibility, and devotion—treating daily duties as a conscious commitment to uphold dharma under the Lord’s guidance.