TEXT 29
yad yujyate su-vasu-karma-mano-vacobhir
dehatmajadisu nrbhis tad asat prthaktvat
tair eva sad bhavati yat kriyate prthaktvat
sarvasya tad bhavati mula-nisecanam yat
SYNONYMS
yatwhatever; yujyateis performed; asufor the protection of ones life; vasuprotection of wealth; karmaactivities; manahby the acts of the mind; vacobhihby the acts of words; deha-atma-ja-adisufor the sake of ones personal body or family, etc., with reference to the body; nrbhihby the human beings; tatthat; asatimpermanent, transient; prthaktvatbecause of separation from the Supreme Personality of Godhead; taihby the same activities; evaindeed; sat bhavatibecomes factual and permanent; yatwhich; kriyateis performed; aprthaktvatbecause of nonseparation; sarvasyafor everyone; tat bhavatibecomes beneficial; mula-nisecanamexactly like pouring water on the root of a tree; yatwhich.
TRANSLATION
In human society there are various activities performed for the protection of ones wealth and life by ones words, ones mind and ones actions, but they are all performed for ones personal or extended sense gratification with reference to the body. All these activities are baffled because of being separate from devotional service. But when the same activities are performed for the satisfaction of the Lord, the beneficial results are distributed to everyone, just as water poured on the root of a tree is distributed throughout the entire tree.
PURPORT
This is the distinction between materialistic activities and activities performed in Krsna consciousness. The entire world is active, and this includes the karmis, the jnanis, the yogis and the bhaktas. However, all activities except those of the bhaktas, the devotees, end in bafflement and a waste of time and energy. Moghasa mogha-karmano mogha jnana vicetasah: [Bg. 9.12] if one is not a devotee, his hopes, his activities and his knowledge are all baffled. A nondevotee works for his personal sense gratification or for the sense gratification of his family, society, community or nation, but because all such activities are separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are considered asat. The word asat means bad or temporary, and sat means permanent and good. Activities performed for the satisfaction of Krsna are permanent and good, but asat activity, although sometimes celebrated as philanthropy, altruism, nationalism, this ism or that ism, will never produce any permanent result and is therefore all bad. Even a little work done in Krsna consciousness is a permanent asset and is all-good because it is done for Krsna, the all-good Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is everyones friend (suhrdam sarva-bhutanam). The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only enjoyer and proprietor of everything (bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]). Therefore any activity performed for the Supreme Lord is permanent. As a result of such activities, the performer is immediately recognized. Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]. Such a devotee, because of full knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is immediately transcendental, although he may superficially appear to be engaged in materialistic activities. The only distinction between materialistic activity and spiritual activity is that material activity is performed only to satisfy ones own senses whereas spiritual activity is meant to satisfy the transcendental senses of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By spiritual activity everyone factually benefits, whereas by materialistic activity no one benefits and instead one becomes entangled in the laws of karma.
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Ninth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled The Lord Incarnates as Mohini-murti.

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