Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 4
Karma-vāda Critiqued, Varṇāśrama Reframed, and the Soul’s Distinction from the Body
निवृत्तं कर्म सेवेत प्रवृत्तं मत्परस्त्यजेत् । जिज्ञासायां सम्प्रवृत्तो नाद्रियेत् कर्मचोदनाम् ॥ ४ ॥
nivṛttaṁ karma seveta pravṛttaṁ mat-paras tyajet jijñāsāyāṁ sampravṛtto nādriyet karma-codanām
អ្នកដែលបានដាក់ខ្ញុំជាគោលដៅជីវិតនៅក្នុងចិត្ត គួរតែបោះបង់សកម្មភាពដែលផ្អែកលើការបំពេញអារម្មណ៍ ហើយអនុវត្តការងារដែលគ្រប់គ្រងដោយវិន័យដើម្បីការរីកចម្រើន។ ប៉ុន្តែពេលណាមនុស្សម្នាក់លង់ជ្រៅពេញលេញក្នុងការស្វែងរកសេចក្តីពិតខ្ពស់បំផុតនៃអាត្មា គាត់មិនគួរទទួលយកបទបញ្ជាសាស្ត្រដែលគ្រប់គ្រងកម្មមានផលទេ។
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the words jijñāsāyāṁ sampravṛttaḥ refer to one who is yoga-ārūḍha, or advanced in the yoga process. In Bhagavad-gītā (6.3-4) it is stated:
FAQs
This verse says to practice actions that lead toward renunciation (nivṛtti) and, if one is devoted to Kṛṣṇa, to abandon actions driven by worldly pursuit (pravṛtti).
Because when a seeker becomes fully engaged in tattva-jijñāsā—serious inquiry into the Absolute Truth—ritual injunctions meant mainly to propel fruitive work are no longer the primary guide; devotion and realized inquiry take precedence.
Reduce actions done purely for prestige and sense-enjoyment, and prioritize devotional practices and duties that purify the heart—work offered to Kṛṣṇa, simple living, truth-seeking study, and disciplined habits that support bhakti.