Shloka 8
Kapila on Liberation: Detachment, Devotional Discipline, and the Soul’s Aloofness from the Guṇas
यदृच्छयोपलब्धेन सन्तुष्टो मितभुङ्मुनि: । विविक्तशरण: शान्तो मैत्र: करुण आत्मवान् ॥ ८ ॥
yadṛcchayopalabdhena santuṣṭo mita-bhuṅ muniḥ vivikta-śaraṇaḥ śānto maitraḥ karuṇa ātmavān
អ្នកភក្តិគួរតែពេញចិត្តនឹងអ្វីដែលទទួលបានដោយមិនលំបាកខ្លាំង បរិភោគត្រឹមត្រូវ; រស់នៅទីស្ងាត់ មានសេចក្តីស្ងប់ ស្និទ្ធស្នាល មេត្តាករុណា និងមានការគ្រប់គ្រងខ្លួន។
Everyone who has accepted a material body must maintain the necessities of the body by acting or earning some livelihood. A devotee should only work for such income as is absolutely necessary. He should be satisfied always with such income and should not endeavor to earn more and more simply to accumulate the unnecessary. A person in the conditioned state who has no money is always found working very hard to earn some with the object of lording it over material nature. Kapiladeva instructs that we should not endeavor hard for things which may come automatically, without extraneous labor. The exact word used in this connection, yadṛcchayā, means that every living entity has a predestined happiness and distress in his present body; this is called the law of karma. It is not possible that simply by endeavors to accumulate more money a person will be able to do so, otherwise almost everyone would be on the same level of wealth. In reality everyone is earning and acquiring according to his predestined karma. According to the Bhāgavatam conclusion, we are sometimes faced with dangerous or miserable conditions without endeavoring for them, and similarly we may have prosperous conditions without endeavoring for them. We are advised to let these things come as predestined. We should engage our valuable time in prosecuting Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In other words, one should be satisfied by his natural condition. If by predestination one is put into a certain condition of life which is not very prosperous in comparison to another’s position, one should not be disturbed. He should simply try to utilize his valuable time to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not depend on any materially prosperous or distressed condition; it is free from the conditions imposed by material life. A very poor man can execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness as effectively as a very rich man. One should therefore be very satisfied with his position as offered by the Lord.
FAQs
This verse lists key saintly qualities: contentment with what comes naturally, moderate eating, preference for seclusion, peace, friendliness, compassion, and self-control.
Kapila is teaching Devahuti the practical traits and conduct that support spiritual realization—inner calm, restraint, and compassion—within his broader instructions on devotional Sankhya-yoga.
Practice accepting simple provisions without constant craving, keep habits moderate (food, sleep, consumption), cultivate calm speech and empathy, and set aside regular quiet time for prayer, japa, and study.