Shloka 21
श्रीभगवानुवाच अनिमित्तनिमित्तेन स्वधर्मेणामलात्मना । तीव्रया मयि भक्त्या च श्रुतसम्भृतया चिरम् ॥ २१ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca animitta-nimittena sva-dharmeṇāmalātmanā tīvrayā mayi bhaktyā ca śruta-sambhṛtayā ciram
The Supreme Lord said: Perform your prescribed duty with a pure heart, without selfish motive; and with intense devotion to Me, hear about Me for a long time.
Śrīdhara Svāmī comments in this connection that by association with material nature alone one does not become conditioned. Conditional life begins only after one is infected by the modes of material nature. If someone is in contact with the police department, that does not mean that he is a criminal. As long as one does not commit criminal acts, even though there is a police department, he is not punished. Similarly, the liberated soul is not affected, although he is in the material nature. Even the Supreme Personality of Godhead is supposed to be in association with material nature when He descends, but He is not affected. One has to act in such a way that in spite of being in the material nature he is not affected by contamination. Although the lotus flower is in association with water, it does not mix with the water. That is how one has to live, as described here by the Personality of Godhead Kapiladeva ( animitta-nimittena sva-dharmeṇāmalātmanā ).
FAQs
This verse teaches that performing one’s prescribed duty free from ulterior motivation, with a purified heart, supports genuine spiritual advancement and devotion to the Lord.
Because devotion becomes steady and deep when it is continually nourished by hearing sacred teachings; śravaṇa supplies understanding, remembrance, and inspiration for long-term bhakti.
Do your responsibilities conscientiously without egoistic expectation, and regularly hear/read authentic Bhagavatam teachings—this combination gradually purifies the mind and strengthens devotion.