Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26
Karma, Jñāna, and Bhakti: Vedic Dharma, Piety and Sin, and the Boat of Human Life
स्वे स्वेऽधिकारे या निष्ठा स गुण: परिकीर्तित: । कर्मणां जात्यशुद्धानामनेन नियम: कृत: । गुणदोषविधानेन सङ्गानां त्याजनेच्छया ॥ २६ ॥
sve sve ’dhikāre yā niṣṭhā sa guṇaḥ parikīrtitaḥ karmaṇāṁ jāty-aśuddhānām anena niyamaḥ kṛtaḥ guṇa-doṣa-vidhānena saṅgānāṁ tyājanecchayā
Es wird fest erklärt, dass die standhafte Treue eines Transzendentalisten zu seiner jeweiligen geistigen Stellung wahre Frömmigkeit ist und dass Sünde entsteht, wenn er seine vorgeschriebene Pflicht vernachlässigt. Wer diesen Maßstab von Tugend und Verfehlung annimmt und aufrichtig alle Verbindung mit Sinnenlust aufgeben will, kann materialistische Tätigkeiten, die von Natur aus unrein sind, bezwingen.
Lord Kṛṣṇa here explains more clearly that those persons directly engaged in self-realization either through jñāna-yoga or bhakti-yoga need not give up their regular duties and perform special penances to atone for an accidental falldown. The actual purpose of Vedic literature is to direct one back home, back to Godhead, and not to encourage material sense gratification. Although the Vedas recommend innumerable rituals for promotion to heavenly planets and enjoyment of all varieties of material opulence, such materialistic rewards are meant only to engage materialistic people, who otherwise would become demoniac. To purify an accidental falldown, one who is engaged in transcendental realization need not adopt any procedure beyond his own spiritual practice. The words saṅgānāṁ tyājanecchayā indicate that one should not practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness or self-realization superficially or casually; rather, one should sincerely and earnestly desire freedom from one’s past sinful life. Similarly, the words yā niṣṭhā indicate that one must constantly practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus, essential piety is to give up material sense gratification and engage in the loving service of the Lord. One who engages his senses, mind and intelligence twenty-four hours a day in the Lord’s service is the most pious person, and the Lord personally protects such a surrendered soul.
FAQs
This verse states that firm steadiness in one’s rightful duty is itself a virtue, because it supports purification and spiritual progress without unnecessary disturbance.
In the Uddhava Gītā context, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical purification: since many duties are mixed with impurity, one must regulate life by discerning favorable vs. unfavorable influences and abandoning degrading company.
Keep your responsibilities steady, but actively reduce influences that pull you toward passion and ignorance—habits, media, and friendships—by choosing what supports remembrance of God and clean conduct.