Shloka 19
गृहेष्वाविशतां चापि पुंसां कुशलकर्मणाम् । मद्वार्तायातयामानां न बन्धाय गृहा मता: ॥ १९ ॥
gṛheṣv āviśatāṁ cāpi puṁsāṁ kuśala-karmaṇām mad-vārtā-yāta-yāmānāṁ na bandhāya gṛhā matāḥ
For those who perform auspicious deeds in devotional service and always pass their lives in the Lord’s topics, the home is not considered bondage, even though they live within household life.
Generally a person living in a family becomes overly attached to fruitive activity. In other words, he tries to enjoy the results of his activities. A devotee, however, knows that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer and the supreme proprietor ( bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram ). Consequently, the devotee does not consider himself the proprietor of any occupation. The devotee always thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the proprietor; therefore the results of his business are offered to the Supreme Lord. One who thus lives in the material world with his family and children never becomes affected by the contaminations of the material world. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) :
FAQs
This verse says a home is not bondage when householders spend their time in the Lord’s topics—hearing, speaking, and remembering Him—alongside their proper duties.
After the Pracetās performed austerities and received the Lord’s audience, He instructed them on how to live without bondage—by engaging their lives in devotion, especially through kṛṣṇa-kathā (topics of the Lord).
Keep devotional sound at the center of the home—regular reading/discussion of Bhagavatam, kīrtana, and remembrance of the Lord—so duties and family life support bhakti rather than create attachment-based bondage.