Shloka 15
Nārada’s Instruction to Vyāsa: The Defect of Bhakti-less Literature and the Mandate of Kṛṣṇa-kathā
जुगुप्सितं धर्मकृतेऽनुशासत: स्वभावरक्तस्य महान् व्यतिक्रम: । यद्वाक्यतो धर्म इतीतर: स्थितो न मन्यते तस्य निवारणं जन: ॥ १५ ॥
jugupsitaṁ dharma-kṛte ’nuśāsataḥ svabhāva-raktasya mahān vyatikramaḥ yad-vākyato dharma itītaraḥ sthito na manyate tasya nivāraṇaṁ janaḥ
People are naturally attached to enjoyment, yet you have encouraged that very tendency in the name of dharma—this is censurable and a grave deviation. Guided by your words, they will accept such acts as ‘religion’ and scarcely heed prohibitions.
Śrīla Vyāsadeva’s compilation of different Vedic literatures on the basis of regulated performances of fruitive activities as depicted in the Mahābhārata and other literature is condemned herewith by Śrīla Nārada. The human beings, by long material association, life after life, have a natural inclination, by practice, to endeavor to lord it over material energy. They have no sense of the responsibility of human life. This human form of life is a chance to get out of the clutches of illusory matter. The Vedas are meant for going back to Godhead, going back home. To revolve in the cycle of transmigration in a series of lives numbering 8,400,000 is an imprisoned life for the condemned conditioned souls. The human form of life is a chance to get out of this imprisoned life, and as such the only occupation of the human being is to reestablish his lost relationship with God. Under the circumstances, one should never be encouraged in making a plan for sense enjoyment in the name of religious functions. Such diversion of the human energy results in a misguided civilization. Śrīla Vyāsadeva is the authority in Vedic explanations in the Mahābhārata, etc., and his encouragement in sense enjoyment in some form or other is a great barrier for spiritual advancement because the people in general will not agree to renounce material activities which hold them in material bondage. At a certain stage of human civilization when such material activities in the name of religion (as sacrificing animals in the name of yajña ) were too much rampant, the Lord incarnated Himself as Buddha and decried the authority of the Vedas in order to stop animal sacrifice in the name of religion. This was foreseen by Nārada, and therefore he condemned such literatures. The flesh-eaters still continue to perform animal sacrifice before some demigod or goddess in the name of religion because in some of the Vedic literatures such regulated sacrifices are recommended. They are so recommended to discourage flesh-eating, but gradually the purpose of such religious activities is forgotten, and the slaughterhouse becomes prominent. This is because foolish materialistic men do not care to listen to others who are actually in a position to explain the Vedic rites.
FAQs
This verse warns that prescribing condemnable acts as “religion” for sense-attached people is a serious wrongdoing, because it legitimizes adharma as dharma and makes people reject genuine restraint and purification.
Nārada is guiding Vyāsa to present literature that directly awakens devotion to Bhagavān, not teachings that accommodate lust and worldly attachment under the label of dharma.
Be cautious of spiritual advice that excuses harmful or indulgent behavior as “religious”; choose teachings that actually purify desire, cultivate self-restraint, and increase devotion to the Lord.