Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.2.46.

Skandham-6.


Chapter-2.


Slokam-46.



natah  param  karma-nibandha-krntanam


mumuksatam  tirtha-padanukirtanat


na  yat  punah  karmasu  sajjate  mano


rajas-tamobhyam  kalilam  tato  nyatha.




na  =  not;

atah  =  therefore;

param  =  better means;

karma-nibandha  =  the obligation to suffer or undergo tribulations as a result of fruitive activities;

krntanam  =  that which can completely cut off;

mumuksatam  =  of persons desiring to get out of the clutches of material bondage;

tirtha-pada  =  about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand;

anukirtanat  =  than constantly chanting under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master;

na  =  not;

yat  =  because;

punah  =  again;

karmasu  =  in fruitive activities;

sajjate  =  becomes attached;

manah  =  the mind;

rajah-tamobhyam  =  by the modes of passion and ignorance;

kalilam  =  contaminated;

tatah  =  thereafter;

anyath  =  by any other means.




Therefore one who desires freedom from material bondage should adopt the process of chanting and glorifying the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand. One cannot derive the proper benefit from other methods, such as pious atonement, speculative knowledge and meditation in mystic yoga, because even after following such methods one takes to fruitive activities again, unable to control his mind, which is contaminated by the base qualities of nature, namely passion and ignorance.

It has actually been seen that even after achieving so-called perfection, many karmis, jnanis and yogis become attached to material activities again. Many so-called svamis and yogis give up material activities as false (jagan mithya), but after some time they nevertheless resume material activities by opening hospitals and schools or performing other activities for the benefit of the public. Sometimes they participate in politics, although still falsely declaring themselves sannyasis, members of the renounced order.

The perfect conclusion, however, is that if one actually desires to get out of the material world, he must take to devotional service, which begins with sravanam,  kirtanam  vishnuah: [SB 7.5.23] chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord.

 In other words, this process is the perfect method of atonement for actions performed in rajah and tamah (passion and ignorance). As stated in SB (1.2.19):

As a result of rajah and tamah, one becomes increasingly lusty and greedy, but when one takes to the process of chanting and hearing, one comes to the platform of goodness and becomes happy. As he advances in devotional service, all his doubts are completely eradicated (bhidyate hrdaya-granthis chidyante sarva-samsayah). Thus the knot of his desire for fruitive activities is cut to pieces.

To be continued  ...