Shloka 15
Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari
Gajendra Prelude
ईहते भगवानीशो न हि तत्र विसज्जते । आत्मलाभेन पूर्णार्थो नावसीदन्ति येऽनु तम् ॥ १५ ॥
īhate bhagavān īśo na hi tatra visajjate ātma-lābhena pūrṇārtho nāvasīdanti ye ’nu tam
The Supreme Lord, Bhagavān Īśvara, is complete by His own self-attainment, yet He performs the līlā of creating, maintaining, and dissolving this world. Even while acting so, He is never entangled. Therefore the devotees who follow His footsteps are likewise never entangled.
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) , 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.” If we do not act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we shall be entangled, like silkworms in cocoons. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, appears in order to teach us how to work so that we will not be entangled in this material world. Our real problem is that we are entangled in materialistic activities, and because we are conditioned, our struggle continues through punishment in material existence in one body after another in different forms of life. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.7) :
FAQs
This verse says the Supreme Lord acts yet is never entangled; similarly, those who follow His example—acting with self-realization and devotion—do not fall into distress.
To establish that divine activity is not like conditioned work: the Lord remains self-satisfied (ātma-lābha), and devotees can learn detached, devotional action from Him.
Do your duties as service to the Lord, avoid possessiveness over results, and cultivate inner fulfillment through bhakti and self-knowledge—then work need not become a cause of anxiety.