Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 34
Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow
निष्णातं योगमायासु मुनिं स्वायम्भुवं मनुम् । यदाभ्रंशयितुं भोगा न शेकुर्भगवत्परम् ॥ ३४ ॥
niṣṇātaṁ yoga-māyāsu muniṁ svāyambhuvaṁ manum yad ābhraṁśayituṁ bhogā na śekur bhagavat-param
Demikianlah Svāyambhuva Manu adalah raja-suci yang mahir dalam yogamāyā dan teguh berpusat pada Bhagavān. Kenikmatan duniawi tak mampu menjatuhkannya, sebab ia menikmatinya dalam suasana bhakti dan kesadaran Kṛṣṇa.
The kingly happiness of material enjoyment generally drags one to the lowest grade of life, namely degradation to animal life, because of unrestricted sense enjoyment. But Svāyambhuva Manu was considered as good as a saintly sage because the atmosphere created in his kingdom and home was completely Kṛṣṇa conscious. The case is similar with the conditioned souls in general; they have come into this material life for sense gratification, but if they are able to create a Kṛṣṇa conscious atmosphere, as depicted here or as prescribed in revealed scriptures, by temple worship and household Deity worship, then in spite of their material enjoyment they can make advancement in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness without a doubt. At the present moment, modern civilization is too much attached to the material way of life, or sense gratification. Therefore, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement can give the people in general the best opportunity to utilize their human life in the midst of material enjoyment. Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not stop them in their propensity for material enjoyment, but simply regulates their habits in the life of sense enjoyment. In spite of their enjoying the material advantages, they can be liberated in this very life by practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness by the simple method of chanting the holy names of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
FAQs
This verse says that one who is Bhagavat-para—fully devoted to the Lord—cannot be made to deviate even when pleasures (bhogāḥ) attempt to distract the mind.
Because he was deeply experienced in the Lord’s divine potency (yogamāyā) and spiritually mature; thus worldly attractions could not shake his God-centered resolve.
Make devotion the highest priority—regular nāma-japa, scripture study, and service—so that pleasures are engaged wisely and do not pull one away from dharma and spiritual goals.