Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 34
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
असाविहानेकगुणोऽगुणोऽध्वर: पृथग्विधद्रव्यगुणक्रियोक्तिभि: । सम्पद्यतेऽर्थाशयलिङ्गनामभि- र्विशुद्धविज्ञानघन: स्वरूपत: ॥ ३४ ॥
asāv ihāneka-guṇo ’guṇo ’dhvaraḥ pṛthag-vidha-dravya-guṇa-kriyoktibhiḥ sampadyate ’rthāśaya-liṅga-nāmabhir viśuddha-vijñāna-ghanaḥ svarūpataḥ
至上人格神は本性において純粋な知の凝集であり、物質界の汚れに染まらない。されど束縛された魂を益するため、さまざまな供物・儀礼・真言によって行われ、行者の目的に応じて諸天の名で捧げられる多種の祭祀をも受け入れ給う。だが真の受享者は、ただそのバガヴァーンご自身である。
For material prosperity there are recommendations in the Vedas for various types of yajña (sacrifice). In Bhagavad-gītā (3.10) it is confirmed that Lord Brahmā created all living entities, including human beings and demigods, and advised them to perform yajña according to their material desires ( saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā ). These performances are called yajñas because their ultimate goal is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. The purpose of performing yajñas is to get material benefit, but because the aim is to simultaneously satisfy the Supreme Lord, such yajñas have been recommended in the Vedas. Such performances are, of course, known as karma-kāṇḍa, or material activities, and all material activities are certainly contaminated by the three modes of material nature. Generally the karma-kāṇḍa ritualistic ceremonies are performed in the mode of passion, yet the conditioned souls, both human beings and demigods, are obliged to perform these yajñas because without them one cannot be happy at all.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord is actually aguṇa—beyond material qualities—yet He is spoken of and approached through names, symbols, intentions, and meanings, while His true nature is pure, concentrated spiritual consciousness.
In instructing the citizens, Pṛthu explains that Vedic sacrifice ultimately points to Viṣṇu as the real beneficiary and essence of yajña, even though ritual details involve many materials, qualities, and actions.
Treat external religious acts as supports, but remember the goal is realizing and serving the Supreme Conscious Person—keeping devotion and inner purity central rather than getting lost in mere ritual complexity.