FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.11.23

त्रैवर्गिकायासविघातमस्मत्- पतिर्विधत्ते पुरुषस्य शक्र । ततोऽनुमेयो भगवत्प्रसादो यो दुर्लभोऽकिञ्चनगोचरोऽन्यै: ॥ २३ ॥
trai-vargikāyāsa-vighātam asmat-
[trai-vargikaayaasa-vighaatam asmat-]
patir vidhatte puruṣasya śakra
[patir vidhatte purushasya shakra]
tato ’numeyo bhagavat-prasādo
[tato ’numeyo bhagavat-prasaado]
yo durlabho ’kiñcana-gocaro ’nyaiḥ
[yo durlabho ’kinchana-gocharo ’nyaih]
trai-vargika — for the three objectives, namely religiosity, economic development, and satisfaction of the senses āyāsa — of endeavor vighātam — the ruin asmat — our patiḥ — Lord vidhatte — performs puruṣasya — of a devotee śakra — O Indra tataḥ — whereby anumeyaḥ — to be inferred bhagavat-prasādaḥ — the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead yaḥ — which durlabhaḥ — very difficult to obtain akiñcana-gocaraḥ — within the reach of the unalloyed devotees anyaiḥ — by others, who aspire for material happiness.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
trai-vargikāyāsa-vighātam asmat-
trai-vargika
for the three objectives, namely religiosity, economic development, and satisfaction of the senses
āyāsa
of endeavor
vighātam
the ruin
asmat
our
patir vidhatte puruṣasya śakra
patiḥ
Lord
vidhatte
performs
puruṣasya
of a devotee
śakra
O Indra
tato ’numeyo bhagavat-prasādo
tataḥ
whereby
yo durlabho ’kiñcana-gocaro ’nyaiḥ
anumeyaḥ
to be inferred
bhagavat-prasādaḥ
the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
yaḥ
which
durlabhaḥ
very difficult to obtain
akiñcana-gocaraḥ
within the reach of the unalloyed devotees
anyaiḥ
by others, who aspire for material happiness.
Our Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, forbids His devotees to endeavor uselessly for religion, economic development and sense gratification. O Indra, one can thus infer how kind the Lord is. Such mercy is obtainable only by unalloyed devotees, not by persons who aspire for material gains.

There are four objectives in human life — namely, religiosity ( dharma ), economic development ( artha ), sense gratification ( kāma ), and liberation ( mokṣa ) from the bondage of material existence. People generally aspire for religiosity, economic development and sense gratification, but a devotee has no other desire than to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead both in this life and in the next. The special mercy for the unalloyed devotee is that the Lord saves him from hard labor to achieve the results of religion, economic development and sense gratification. Of course, if one wants such benefits, the Lord certainly awards them. Indra, for example, although a devotee, was not much interested in release from material bondage; instead, he desired sense gratification and a high standard of material happiness in the heavenly planets. Vṛtrāsura, however, being an unalloyed devotee, aspired only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the Lord arranged for him to go back to Godhead after his bodily bondage was destroyed by Indra. Vṛtrāsura requested Indra to release his thunderbolt against him as soon as possible so that both he and Indra would benefit according to their proportionate advancement in devotional service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Indra! Our Lord obstructs endeavors for artha, dharma and kāma. One should infer that this is the mercy of the Lord, which is rarely attained by others but attained by those with attachment to only the Lord. Having told you the method of killing me to take me to the side of the Lord, you should consider that you do not have the mercy of the Lord since he will give you wealth and enjoyment. He obstructs his sincere devotee (puruṣasya) from endeavoring for artha, dharma and kāma. If the Lord stops those endeavors, one can infer that to be the Lord’s mercy. “But we have not had such an experience.” It is rare for anyone except those who are solely dedicated to the Lord. Therefore it is unavailable to you. Completely devoid of his mercy, you will obtain wealth. Believing you will attain wealth, quickly throw the thunderbolt at me.
The Lord forbids His devotees to endeavor uselessly for religion, economy, sense gratification — His mercy is obtainable only by serving with sincere devotion. Some 'religious' efforts He simply forbids us.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'religious' efforts is He quietly forbidding me?
  • What service would He approve in their place?
📝 My note

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