Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16
Kapila’s Conclusion: Limits of Karma and Yoga; Supremacy of Bhakti and Qualification to Receive the Teaching
ये त्विहासक्तमनस: कर्मसु श्रद्धयान्विता: । कुर्वन्त्यप्रतिषिद्धानि नित्यान्यपि च कृत्स्नश: ॥ १६ ॥
ye tv ihāsakta-manasaḥ karmasu śraddhayānvitāḥ kurvanty apratiṣiddhāni nityāny api ca kṛtsnaśaḥ
ये तु इह संसारेऽतिसक्तमनसः श्रद्धयान्विताः, अप्रतिषिद्धानि नित्यानि कर्माणि कृत्स्नशः प्रतिदिनं कुर्वन्ति, फलासक्त्या तेषु बद्धचित्ताः सन्ति।
In this and the following six verses, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam criticizes persons who are too materially attached. It is enjoined in the Vedic scriptures that those who are attached to the enjoyment of material facilities have to sacrifice and undergo certain ritualistic performances. They have to observe certain rules and regulations in their daily lives to be elevated to the heavenly planets. It is stated in this verse that such persons cannot be liberated at any time. Those who worship demigods with the consciousness that each and every demigod is a separate God cannot be elevated to the spiritual world, what to speak of persons who are simply attached to duties for the upliftment of their material condition.
FAQs
It states that people attached to ritual action, when endowed with faith, carry out in full the daily, scripturally permitted duties.
Kapila explains stages of spiritual practice—showing how those still attached to karma follow prescribed duties, as part of the broader path leading toward higher realization.
Even while developing spirituality, one can conscientiously perform ethical, non-harmful duties with sincerity, using disciplined responsibility as a foundation for inner growth.