Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 21
Karma-vāda Critiqued, Varṇāśrama Reframed, and the Soul’s Distinction from the Body
श्रुतं च दृष्टवद् दुष्टं स्पर्धासूयात्ययव्ययै: । बह्वन्तरायकामत्वात् कृषिवच्चापि निष्फलम् ॥ २१ ॥
śrutaṁ ca dṛṣṭa-vad duṣṭaṁ spardhāsūyātyaya-vyayaiḥ bahv-antarāya-kāmatvāt kṛṣi-vac cāpi niṣphalam
Le bonheur matériel dont on entend parler —comme l’élévation aux mondes célestes pour y jouir— est semblable à celui déjà éprouvé : tous deux sont souillés par la rivalité, l’envie, le déclin et la mort. Ainsi, comme une culture devient vaine lorsqu’elle rencontre maladies, insectes ou sécheresse, de même la quête du bonheur matériel, sur terre ou au ciel, demeure toujours stérile à cause d’innombrables obstacles.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments as follows on this verse. “Ordinarily, if there is no specific impediment, agricultural endeavors will yield their fruits. If, however, there is a defect in the seed, or if the soil is too salty or barren, or if there is drought, plague, excessive rain or heat out of season, or if there are disturbances caused by animals, birds or insects, then agricultural activities will not yield the desired harvest. Similarly, those who are expert in analyzing the material world see that the heavenly situations offered in the Vedas are not basically different from life on the earth. By the interaction of conditioned souls there will inevitably be jealousy as one becomes distinguished as superior and another as inferior. By the power of time these positions are reversed, and therefore violence and intrigue disturb life even on the heavenly planets. In fact, the attempt to promote oneself to the heavenly planets is itself full of problems and disturbances. One should therefore understand that the kingdom of God, Vaikuṇṭha, is transcendental to the limitations and disturbances imposed by the laws of material nature in this world. If one wrongly concludes that such imperfections are also present in the kingdom of God, then one will be polluted by material contamination.”
FAQs
This verse explains that when hearing and seeing are colored by rivalry (spardhā) and envy (asūyā), one’s perception and efforts become “spoiled,” leading to fruitless results despite hard work.
In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on the inner causes of bondage; here He highlights how desire-driven living mixed with envy and distraction creates obstacles and makes even sincere efforts ineffective.
Reduce competitive comparison and fault-finding, simplify distractions and wasteful spending, and re-center goals on service and devotion—then your learning and actions become steady and genuinely productive.