FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.66

यद् यस्य वानिषिद्धं स्याद्येन यत्र यतो नृप । स तेनेहेत कार्याणि नरो नान्यैरनापदि ॥ ६६ ॥
yad yasya vāniṣiddhaṁ syād
[yad yasya vaanishiddham syaad]
yena yatra yato nṛpa
[yena yatra yato nripa]
sa teneheta kāryāṇi
[sa teneheta kaaryaani]
naro nānyair anāpadi
[naro naanyair anaapadi]
Word-for-word
yat — whatever yasya — of a man vā — either aniṣiddham — not forbidden syāt — it is so yena — by which means yatra — in place and time yataḥ — from which nṛpa — O King saḥ — such a person tena — by such a process īheta — should perform kāryāṇi — prescribed activities naraḥ — a person na — not anyaiḥ — by other ways anāpadi — in the absence of danger.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yad yasya vāniṣiddhaṁ syād
yat
whatever
yasya
of a man
vā
either
aniṣiddham
not forbidden
syāt
it is so
yena yatra yato nṛpa
yena
by which means
yatra
in place and time
yataḥ
from which
nṛpa
O King
sa teneheta kāryāṇi
saḥ
such a person
tena
by such a process
īheta
should perform
kāryāṇi
prescribed activities
naro nānyair anāpadi
naraḥ
a person
na
not
anyaiḥ
by other ways
anāpadi
in the absence of danger.
In normal conditions, in the absence of danger, O King Yudhiṣṭhira, a man should perform his prescribed activities according to his status of life with the things, endeavors, process and living place that are not forbidden for him, and not by any other means.
Purport

This instruction is given for men in all statuses of life. Generally society is divided into brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras, brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, sannyāsīs and gṛhasthas. Everyone must act according to his position and try to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for that will make one’s life successful. This was instructed in Naimiṣāraṇya:

ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam

“O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [ dharma ] according to caste divisions and order of life, is to please the Lord Hari.” ( Bhāg. 1.2.13 ) Everyone should act according to his occupational duties just to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then everyone will be happy.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! In the absence of danger, a man should perform his prescribed activities according to his status of life with articles, means, place and cause that are not forbidden for him, and not by any other means. The conduct of the āśramas is now summarized. Yat refers to items not forbidden. Yena refers to the method and yataḥ refers to the reason.
Related values & verses
Related verses
SB 1.2.13
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
In normal conditions, perform prescribed activities according to your status with permitted things, efforts, processes, and place. Live the life appropriate to your position; do not freelance. Order is itself a form of devotion.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is freelancing in your dharma producing chaos rather than freedom?
  • What does 'permitted means' look like in your work, and where have you slipped past it?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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