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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.9
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 9
- dharmasya hy āpavargyasya
- nārtho 'rthāyopakalpate
- nārthasya dharmaikāntasya
- kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ
dharmasyaoccupational engagement — occupational engagement; hicertainly — certainly; āpavargyasyaultimate liberation — ultimate liberation; nanot — not; arthaḥend — end; arthāyafor material gain — for material gain; upakalpateis meant for — is meant for; naneither — neither; arthasyaof material gain — of material gain; dharmafor one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service-ekafor one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service-antasyafor one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service — for one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service; kāmaḥsense gratification — sense gratification; lābhāyaattainment of — attainment of; hiexactly — exactly; smṛtaḥis described by the great sages — is described by the great sages.
All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.
We have already discussed that pure devotional service to the Lord is automatically followed by perfect knowledge and detachment from material existence. But there are others who consider that all kinds of different occupational engagements, including those of religion, are meant for material gain. The general tendency of any ordinary man in any part of the world is to gain some material profit in exchange for religious or any other occupational service. Even in the Vedic literatures, for all sorts of religious performances an allurement of material gain is offered, and most people are attracted by such allurements or blessings of religiosity. Why are such so-called men of religion allured by material gain? Because material gain can enable one to fulfill desires, which in turn satisfy sense gratification. This cycle of occupational engagements includes so-called religiosity followed by material gain and material gain followed by fulfillment of desires. Sense gratification is the general way for all sorts of fully occupied men. But in the statement of Sūta Gosvāmī, as per the verdict of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, this is nullified by the present śloka.
One should not engage himself in any sort of occupational service for material gain only. Nor should material gain be utilized for sense gratification. How material gain should be utilized is described as follows.