Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.10
स्वधर्मस्थो यजन् यज्ञैरनाशी:काम उद्धव ।
न याति स्वर्गनरकौ यद्यन्यन्न समाचरेत् ॥ १० ॥
sva-dharma-stho yajan yajñair
[sva-dharma-stho yajan yajnair]
anāśīḥ-kāma uddhava
[anaasheeh-kaama uddhava]
na yāti svarga-narakau
[na yaati svarga-narakau]
yady anyan na samācaret
[yady anyan na samaacharet]
Word-for-word
sva-dharma
—
in one’s prescribed duties
sthaḥ
—
situated
yajan
—
worshiping
yajñaiḥ
—
by prescribed sacrifices
anāśīḥ-kāmaḥ
—
not desiring fruitive results
uddhava
—
My dear Uddhava
na
—
does not
yāti
—
go
svarga
—
to heaven
narakau
—
or to hell
yadi
—
if
anyat
—
something other than his prescribed duty
na
—
does not
samācaret
—
perform.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sva-dharma-stho yajan yajñair
sva-dharma
in one’s prescribed duties
sthaḥ
situated
yajan
worshiping
yajñaiḥ
by prescribed sacrifices
anāśīḥ-kāma uddhava
anāśīḥ-kāmaḥ
not desiring fruitive results
uddhava
My dear Uddhava
na yāti svarga-narakau
na
does not
yāti
go
svarga
to heaven
narakau
or to hell
yady anyan na samācaret
yadi
if
anyat
something other than his prescribed duty
na
does not
samācaret
perform.
My dear Uddhava, a person who is situated in his prescribed duty, properly worshiping by Vedic sacrifices but not desiring the fruitive result of such worship, will not go to the heavenly planets; similarly, by not performing forbidden activities he will not go to hell.
Purport
The perfection of karma-yoga is described here. One who does not desire fruitive rewards for his religious activities does not waste time going to the heavenly planets for celestial sense gratification. Similarly, one who does not neglect his prescribed duty or perform forbidden activities will not be bothered by going to hell for punishment. Thus avoiding material rewards and punishments, such a desireless person can be promoted to the platform of pure devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O Uddhava! A person who is situated in his prescribed duty, properly worshiping by Vedic sacrifices but not desiring the results will not go to the heavenly planets; similarly, by not performing forbidden activities he will not go to hell.
It is possible that those who are overly attached to material karmas take up niṣkāma-karma. Performing their duties without desiring results, they do not go to Svarga. By avoiding prohibited acts, not breaking rules of ones sva-dharma, one does not go to hell.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
One engaged in prescribed duty, properly worshiping without desiring fruits, will not go to heaven; and not performing forbidden acts, will not go to hell. The duty-without-desire person bypasses both extremes.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I subtly still hoping for heaven from my duty?
- What would no-result performance feel like?
My note
Source: vedabase.io