- Srimad Bhagavatam Class: SB 11.3.41
- Chapter Name: Liberation from the Illusory Energy
- Venue: Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata
- Day/Date: Monday, 5th June 2025
- Speaker: HG Nimai Anand Prabhu
In today’s Srimad Bhagavatam class HG Nimai Anand Prabhu spoke about Karma Yoga and highlighted that all work is not worship. Only if we work for Krishna then work is worship and that karma becomes karma yoga. Prabhuji was speaking on the verse SB 11.3.41
śrī-rājovāca
karma-yogaṁ vadata naḥ
puruṣo yena saṁskṛtaḥ
vidhūyehāśu karmāṇi
naiṣkarmyaṁ vindate param
King Nimi said: O great sages, please speak to us about the process of karma-yoga. Purified by this process of dedicating one’s practical work to the Supreme, a person can very quickly free himself from all material activities, even in this life, and thus enjoy pure life on the transcendental platform.
Important points from the purport of this verse SB 11.3.41
- Since the living entity cannot remain inactive, he must learn to dedicate his activities to the Lord.
- ..it is the nature of the soul to be always active. Without the presence of the spirit soul, the material body cannot move
- ..dovetailing one’s work with the service of the Lord is an art one should learn at the lotus feet of the bona fide spiritual master
Soul cannot be inactive
Nimi Maharaja who is absorbed in pure devotional service is asking a relevant question here. His question is about karma yoga. True karma yoga is powerful. We are always active, even for a moment we cannot be inactive. It is because we are spirit soul. Spirit soul is sat i.e. eternally active. Cit that he always looking for knowledge about Krishna. And Ananda i.e. always wants bliss.
Our original pursuit is to know Krishna. Forgetting Krishna, spirit soul is now trying to be active on material platform and so becomes unhappy. Sunyavadi says everything is 0, Mayavadi tries to make everything inactive. Both are wrong. Act of any philosophy other than Krishna Consciousness is crime because it does not satisfy the self at all.
Karma yoga means activity performed as per one’s nature but is connected to Krishna. Work is compulsory. But we have to see that what is the impetus for work. What is the motive. A materialist works hard and so does the devotees. Difference is the impetus. The impetus will define the result we get and the destination of the soul.
Only two reasons for doing work
There may be different impetuses for doing work, but these can be categorized in two.
- Impetus is self-centered – One work for sense gratification and is driven by false ego.
- Impetus is Krishna–centered – One work for Krishna
Both works hard but results are different. Materialists get bind in this world by work and devotees are freed from the entanglement of maya.
Self centered person works for these three reasons
- Gross sense gratification – To satisfy the gross senses like eyes, ears, tongue, skin and so on. It is impetus to work hard.
- Subtle sense gratification: People look for name, fame, glory etc.
- Extended sense gratification: People work for children, for family, for society, for nation.
The above activities are karma and not karma yoga.
When we do karma and connect to Krishna then its karma yoga. Work is not worship if not connected to Krishna. But if done for Krishna work is worship.
How people working for self can start working for Krishna?
1.It can happen by logical understanding.
One understands that sense gratification is temporary and illusory. It is illusory because it gives insignificant happiness, is addictive and is dangerous.
We start understanding that working for Krishna is my true welfare.
Also, we understand that real self is part of Krishna. If we think in this way then we come out from self-centeredness to Krishna centeredness.
2. By associating with those who has bhakti for Krishna
It is said bhakti sanjayate bhaktya – bhakti comes from bhakti.We can give our heart to Krishna only if we associate with those who has given their heart to Krishna.
Narada Muni explains that how by associating with Bhakti Vedantist his life got transformed and he became a devotee of Krishna. Pure devotees’ association is infectious. So, we should develop attachment for those who have love for Krishna.
If we do so our impetus will change, our motive will change.
Bhakti cannot be produced but can only be induced and it happens by the association of pure devotees.
