Shloka 69
मा लक्ष्मीः कर्मभोगो वै याति मायेति कथ्यते । मा लक्ष्मीर्ज्ञानभोगो वै याति मायेति कथ्यते
mā lakṣmīḥ karmabhogo vai yāti māyeti kathyate | mā lakṣmīrjñānabhogo vai yāti māyeti kathyate
It is declared that even Lakṣmī—when sought as enjoyment through karma (action)—leads one into Māyā. It is also declared that even Lakṣmī—when sought as enjoyment through jñāna (knowledge)—leads one into Māyā.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse warns that prosperity (Lakṣmī) becomes bondage when approached as “enjoyment”—whether through worldly action (karma) or even through pride in knowledge (jñāna). From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, liberation comes when action and knowledge are offered to Pati (Śiva), rather than used to feed the ego and desire.
Liṅga-worship trains the devotee to redirect both work and understanding toward Śiva as the Lord of grace. When prosperity or learning is subordinated to devotion (bhakti) and surrender to Śiva, it ceases to function as Māyā and becomes supportive of dharma and inner purification.
Practice offering daily actions to Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and cultivate vairāgya (non-attachment) toward results; if performing pūjā, keep the intent as service (sevā) rather than gain, using simple Liṅga-abhisheka and mantra-japa.