Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Varāha-avatāra: The Boar Incarnation Lifts the Earth and Slays Hiraṇyākṣa
येषां न तुष्टो भगवान् यज्ञलिङ्गो जनार्दन: । तेषां श्रमो ह्यपार्थाय यदात्मा नादृत: स्वयम् ॥ १३ ॥
yeṣāṁ na tuṣṭo bhagavān yajña-liṅgo janārdanaḥ teṣāṁ śramo hy apārthāya yad ātmā nādṛtaḥ svayam
If Bhagavān Janārdana, the acceptor of all sacrificial results, is not satisfied, one’s labor for advancement is in vain. He is the Paramātmā; thus, one who does not please Him neglects one’s own true welfare.
Brahmā is deputed as the supreme head of universal affairs, and he in his turn deputes Manu and others as charges d’affaires of the material manifestation, but the whole show is for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Brahmā knows how to satisfy the Lord, and similarly persons engaged in the line of Brahmā’s plan of activities also know how to satisfy the Lord. The Lord is satisfied by the process of devotional service, consisting of the ninefold process of hearing, chanting, etc. It is in one’s own sell-interest to execute prescribed devotional service, and anyone who neglects this process neglects his own self-interest. Everyone wants to satisfy his senses, but above the senses is the mind, above the mind is the intelligence, above the intelligence is the individual self, and above the individual self is the Superself. Above even the Superself is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, viṣṇu-tattva. The primeval Lord and the cause of all causes is Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The complete process of perfectional service is to render service for the satisfaction of the transcendental senses of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Janārdana.
FAQs
This verse states that if Janārdana (the Lord who is the goal of sacrifice) is not pleased, then one’s effort—even ritualistic work—becomes fruitless because the Supreme Self has not been properly honored.
In the Varāha-related narration, Śukadeva highlights the core principle of the Bhāgavatam: all dharma, yajña, and endeavor reach perfection only when directed to and accepted by the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.
Do your duties and spiritual practices with conscious devotion—offer results to the Lord, remember Him, and align actions with service—so effort becomes spiritually meaningful rather than merely exhausting.