Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
पुंसामतो विविधकर्मभिरध्वराद्यै- र्दानेन चोग्रतपसा परिचर्यया च । आराधनं भगवतस्तव सत्क्रियार्थो धर्मोऽर्पित: कर्हिचिद्म्रियते न यत्र ॥ १३ ॥
puṁsām ato vividha-karmabhir adhvarādyair dānena cogra-tapasā paricaryayā ca ārādhanaṁ bhagavatas tava sat-kriyārtho dharmo ’rpitaḥ karhicid mriyate na yatra
因此，人们所行的善业——如吠陀祭祀、布施、严厉苦行与超越服务——若以礼敬你、并将果报奉献于你为旨趣，也同样有益。这样的法行从不徒然，绝不会消亡。
Absolute devotional service, conducted in nine different spiritual activities — hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, praying, etc. — does not always appeal to people with a pompous nature; they are more attracted by the Vedic superficial rituals and other costly performances of social religious shows. But the process according to the Vedic injunctions is that the fruits of all pious activities should be offered to the Supreme Lord. In Bhagavad-gītā (9.27) , the Lord demands that whatever one may do in one’s daily activities, such as worship, sacrifice, and offering charity, all the results should be offered to Him only. This offering of the results of pious acts unto the Supreme Lord is a sign of devotional service to the Lord and is of permanent value, whereas enjoying the same results for oneself is only temporary. Anything done on account of the Lord is a permanent asset and accumulates in the form of unseen piety for gradual promotion to the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord. These undetected pious activities will one day result in full-fledged devotional service by the grace of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, any pious act done on account of the Supreme Lord is also recommended here for those who are not pure devotees.
FAQs
This verse states that sacrifices, charity, austerity, and service attain their true goal when they culminate in worship of Bhagavān—dedicating dharma to the Lord.
Brahmā teaches that dharma rooted in devotion is not limited by time or circumstance; when actions are surrendered to Bhagavān, their spiritual result becomes enduring rather than temporary.
Perform your duties—work, giving, discipline, and service—with the intention of pleasing Krishna/Viṣṇu, offering the results to Him; this turns ordinary acts into lasting spiritual practice.