Shloka 9
Lord Viṣṇu Instructs Pṛthu: Forgiveness, Ātmā-Deha Viveka, and the Bhakti Ideal of Kingship
य: स्वधर्मेण मां नित्यं निराशी: श्रद्धयान्वित: । भजते शनकैस्तस्य मनो राजन् प्रसीदति ॥ ९ ॥
yaḥ sva-dharmeṇa māṁ nityaṁ nirāśīḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ bhajate śanakais tasya mano rājan prasīdati
My dear King, one who remains in his own duty (svadharma) and worships Me daily with faith, free from desire for material gain, gradually finds his mind becoming peaceful and satisfied.
This verse is also confirmed by the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Occupational duties are known as varṇāśrama-dharma and apply to the four divisions of material and spiritual life — namely brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra, and brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. If one works according to the varṇāśrama-dharma system and does not desire fruitive results, he gets satisfaction gradually. Discharging one’s occupational duty as a means of rendering devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life. Bhagavad-gītā confirms this as the process of karma-yoga. In other words, we should act only for the satisfaction and service of the Lord; otherwise we will be entangled by the resultant actions.
FAQs
This verse teaches that worshiping the Lord by performing one’s own prescribed duties—done with faith and without craving rewards—gradually purifies the heart and brings mental peace.
Lord Viṣṇu instructs Pṛthu that steady devotion expressed through dutiful, desireless service is a practical path to inner satisfaction—guiding him to rule and act without selfish motivation.
Do your responsibilities sincerely as an offering to God, reduce obsession with outcomes, keep faith through ups and downs, and cultivate consistency—over time the mind becomes calmer and more content.