Shloka 14
Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari
Gajendra Prelude
अथाग्रे ऋषय: कर्माणीहन्तेऽकर्महेतवे । ईहमानो हि पुरुष: प्रायोऽनीहां प्रपद्यते ॥ १४ ॥
athāgre ṛṣayaḥ karmāṇ- īhante ’karma-hetave īhamāno hi puruṣaḥ prāyo ’nīhāṁ prapadyate
Therefore the great sages first engage people in śāstra-prescribed, fruitive duties, so that they may gradually attain the stage of action untouched by karmic results. For without beginning with work recommended in the scriptures, one generally cannot reach liberation or the state of work that produces no reaction.
In Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) Lord Kṛṣṇa advises, yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: “Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work binds one to this material world.” Generally, everyone is attracted to hard labor for becoming happy in this material world, but although various activities are going on all over the world simply for the sake of happiness, unfortunately only problems are being created from such fruitive activities. Therefore it is advised that active persons engage in activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which are called yajña, because then they will gradually come to the platform of devotional service. Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, the yajña-puruṣa, the enjoyer of all sacrifices ( bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram ). The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the enjoyer, and therefore if we begin our activities for His satisfaction, we will gradually lose our taste for material activities.
FAQs
This verse says sages begin with prescribed actions, but their purpose is to reach akarma—freedom from karmic reactions and the liberated state of inner stillness.
He explains to Parīkṣit that regulated duty, done properly, purifies desire and gradually brings one to detachment—where one is no longer driven by material striving.
Perform responsibilities as disciplined service rather than ego-driven ambition; over time, this reduces anxiety and attachment, cultivating steadiness and spiritual focus.