Shloka 17
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
लोको विकर्मनिरत: कुशले प्रमत्त: कर्मण्ययं त्वदुदिते भवदर्चने स्वे । यस्तावदस्य बलवानिह जीविताशां सद्यश्छिनत्त्यनिमिषाय नमोऽस्तु तस्मै ॥ १७ ॥
loko vikarma-nirataḥ kuśale pramattaḥ karmaṇy ayaṁ tvad-udite bhavad-arcane sve yas tāvad asya balavān iha jīvitāśāṁ sadyaś chinatty animiṣāya namo ’stu tasmai
सामान्य जन विकर्म में आसक्त होकर सच्चे कल्याणकारी कर्मों में प्रमत्त रहते हैं; वे आपके द्वारा बताए गए अपने ही भगवदर्चन-रूप कर्म में नहीं लगते। जब तक मूर्ख कर्म की प्रवृत्ति बलवान रहती है, तब तक जीवन-संघर्ष की उनकी सारी योजनाएँ क्षण में कट जाती हैं। उस अनिमेष काल-स्वरूप प्रभु को नमस्कार।
People in general are all engaged in senseless work. They are systematically unmindful of the real beneficial work, which is the devotional service of the Lord, technically called the arcanā regulations. The arcanā regulations are directly instructed by the Lord in the Nārada-pañcarātra and are strictly followed by the intelligent men, who know well that the highest perfectional goal of life is to reach Lord Viṣṇu, who is the root of the tree called the cosmic manifestation. Also, in the Bhāgavatam and in Bhagavad-gītā such regulative activities are clearly mentioned. Foolish people do not know that their self-interest is in realization of Viṣṇu. The Bhāgavatam (7.5.30-32) says:
FAQs
This verse states that people naturally become absorbed in vikarma and remain careless about true welfare, but turning to the Lord’s prescribed worship redirects life toward auspiciousness.
Brahmā glorifies the Lord as ever-vigilant and supremely powerful—able to instantly cut off a devotee’s obsession with mere worldly survival and awaken higher spiritual aim.
It advises shifting energy from harmful habits and anxious survivalism into steady devotion (worship and remembrance), which naturally reduces fear-driven attachment and clarifies what is truly beneficial.