FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.32.16

ये त्विहासक्तमनस: कर्मसु श्रद्धयान्विता: । कुर्वन्त्यप्रतिषिद्धानि नित्यान्यपि च कृत्स्‍नश: ॥ १६ ॥
ye tv ihāsakta-manasaḥ
[ye tv ihaasakta-manasah]
karmasu śraddhayānvitāḥ
[karmasu shraddhayaanvitaah]
kurvanty apratiṣiddhāni
[kurvanty apratishiddhaani]
nityāny api ca kṛtsnaśaḥ
[nityaany api cha kritsnashah]
Word-for-word
ye — those who tu — but iha — in this world āsakta — addicted manasaḥ — whose minds karmasu — to fruitive activities śraddhayā — with faith anvitāḥ — endowed kurvanti — perform apratiṣiddhāni — with attachment to the result nityāni — prescribed duties api — certainly ca — and kṛtsnaśaḥ — repeatedly.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ye tv ihāsakta-manasaḥ
ye
those who
tu
but
iha
in this world
āsakta
addicted
manasaḥ
whose minds
karmasu śraddhayānvitāḥ
karmasu
to fruitive activities
śraddhayā
with faith
anvitāḥ
endowed
kurvanty apratiṣiddhāni
kurvanti
perform
apratiṣiddhāni
with attachment to the result
nityāni
prescribed duties
nityāny api ca kṛtsnaśaḥ
api
certainly
ca
and
kṛtsnaśaḥ
repeatedly.
Persons who are too addicted to this material world execute their prescribed duties very nicely and with great faith. They daily perform all such prescribed duties with attachment to the fruitive result.
Purport

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
With minds attached to this world, with faith in prescribed duties, they perform kāmya-karmas and nitya-karmas to the fullest extent. Because of their absence of bhakti, Brahmā and others return to the place where people perform sakāma-karma. This is criticized in six verses. They perform kāmyā (apratisiddhāni) as well as daily duties (nityāni). These (though recommended in scriptures) are criticized. What to speak then of performing sinful actions!
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes layered cosmic machinery — modes, elements, governing demigods — to remind us that even our 'private' lives are arranged by larger hands.
Reflection Questions
  • How does it change your day to remember the universe was not built around your preferences?
  • How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 32