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681022BG.SEA
Prabhupada: So we were discussing that everybody should work.
niyatam kuru karma tvam
karma jyayo hy akarmanah sarira-yatrapi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmanah [Bg. 3.8] yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra
loko 'yam karma-bandhanah tad-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangah samacara [Bg. 3.9] Now, this is the formula of spiritual realization, that we should not stop our working capacities, the prescribed duties in which we are engaged. That is not to be stopped. If we stop work and spiritual realization, for spiritual realization we leave this world and go to the jungle or Himalaya and sit down there for meditation, for spiritual realization, oh, how many people will be ready to do this thing? No. This is not for mass people. Lord Sri Krsna is prescribing something practical which can be adopted by everyone and all without any distinction. This point we have already discussed in the last day's meeting, that whatever you may be, it doesn't matter. You can realize the highest perfection of life provided you work under the regulation of yajna. Yajnarthat karmanah. There is no harm working, but the work should be done for the Supreme Lord, Yajna. Yajna means Visnu. Because according to laws of nature, any work you do, it has got some reaction, and we are bound up by those reactions. Vedas also says, karmana baddhyate jantuh. Karmana baddhyate jantuh, that "All living entities, they are bound up in this material encagement on account of their different kinds of karma, or work." But here is the point, that you shall not be bound up by the reaction of your karma if you act it on behalf of Yajna or Visnu or the Supreme Lord. That is prescription. Yajnarthat karmanah anyatra [Bg. 3.9]. Anyatra. If you do not work for that supreme purpose, then you will be bound up and your this encagement of body will continue. This encagement of body will continue if you work on your own responsibility and not for the supreme purpose or the Supreme Lord Yajna, or Visnu. That is the secret. Yajna means yajna vai visnu iti srute. Srute. Srute means the Vedic literatures, the Vedic hymns. They prove it. Yajna means Visnu. Visnus tu sartham karma samacara. Therefore we have to work for the satisfaction of Visnu. That is called yajna.
saha-yajnah prajah srstva
purovaca prajapatih anena prasavisyadhvam esa vo 'stv ista-kama-dhuk [Bg. 3.10] The proof of this sacrifice, yajna, is mentioned in the Vedic scripture. After the creation it was so announced that "If you want to be happy, you must perform sacrifices." Sacrifices.
The Vedic literature is created for guidance of the conditioned souls. Every living being who is in this material world is conditioned by the laws of material nature. And it is a chance. This creation, and especially this human body, is a chance to get rid of this material entanglement, and the chance is open by acting for the satisfaction of Visnu. Saha-yajnah prajah srstva. Prajah. Prajah means the living entities. After being created, they were advised that "You perform yajna, or sacrifice for the satisfaction of Visnu." That will... Anena, "by this," prasavisyadhvam, "you increase your enlightenment." Prasavisyadhvam. "And whatever you want, that will be satisfied by this yajna." Devan... Yajna, that sacrifice.
Now, yajna is practically, according to the Vedic rituals, yajna, or sacrifice, is offered to different devas, demigods. There are hundreds and thousands of demigods mentioned in the Vedic literatures. And the whole portion is called upasana-kanda. Upasana-kanda means worshiping different demigods. But what are these demigods? The demigods are just like different parts of the whole body of the Supreme Lord. They are, so to say, just like the government of the king. There is one king, but there are many state officers.
Just you can imagine that if for management of a city like New York, you have got so many departments. As soon as we go to these chambers, we get so many departments: criminal department, civil department, and so many departments. So for management of these universal affairs, there are different departments also, so far we can get information from the Vedic literature. And each department, there is a particular director. And Brahma is considered to be supreme director of this universe. So this yajna, sacrifice, Vedic rituals, they are indicated to pay different taxes to different demigods. But the Supreme Lord is above all. Therefore, if one performs sacrifice for the Supreme Lord, he is immune from other obligations. That is also mentioned.
devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartam [SB 11.5.41] Now, as soon as a living being is born in this material world, he has got many obligations. (incomplete) (end)
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/bg/3/8-11/seattle/october/22/1968 Previous: Bhagavad-gita 3.8-13 -- New York, May 20, 1966 Next: Bhagavad-gita 3.11-19 -- Los Angeles, December 27, 1968
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