Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 8
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
वदन्ति तेऽन्योन्यमुपासितस्त्रियो गृहेषु मैथुन्यपरेषु चाशिष: । यजन्त्यसृष्टान्नविधानदक्षिणं वृत्त्यै परं घ्नन्ति पशूनतद्विद: ॥ ८ ॥
vadanti te ’nyonyam upāsita-striyo gṛheṣu maithunya-pareṣu cāśiṣaḥ yajanty asṛṣṭānna-vidhāna-dakṣiṇaṁ vṛttyai paraṁ ghnanti paśūn atad-vidaḥ
Abandonando a adoração do Senhor, eles praticamente adoram as próprias esposas, e assim seus lares ficam dedicados ao sexo. Tais ritualistas encorajam-se mutuamente nessa conduta caprichosa. Tomando o sacrifício como meio de sustento do corpo, realizam cerimônias não autorizadas, sem distribuição de alimentos nem caridade, e cruelmente abatem cabras e outros animais, sem compreender as sombrias consequências de seus atos.
False pride is certainly not complete without sex indulgence. Thus, lusty materialistic householders are not attracted to worshiping saintly persons, but rather worship their wives as a source of constant sex pleasure. The mentality of such condemned persons is described by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (16.13):
FAQs
This verse criticizes people who, not knowing the truth, perform rituals for livelihood and sense pleasure and even justify animal killing as “supreme,” showing it to be a misunderstanding of dharma.
Narada is describing the degradation of religious practice—how household-centered sense enjoyment and profit-motivated ritual replace genuine spiritual understanding—so Vasudeva can grasp the need for pure devotion.
Examine spiritual practice for motive: avoid using religion for social approval, money, or indulgence, and align worship with compassion, purity, and sincere devotion to the Supreme.