Devanagari
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव ।
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
abhyāse ’py asamartho ’si
mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmāṇi
kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi
Synonyms
abhyāse
—
in practice
;
api
—
even if
;
asamarthaḥ
—
unable
;
asi
—
you are
;
mat-karma
—
My work
;
paramaḥ
—
dedicated to
;
bhava
—
become
;
mat-artham
—
for My sake
;
api
—
even
;
karmāṇi
—
work
;
kurvan
—
performing
;
siddhim
—
perfection
;
avāpsyasi
—
you will achieve.
Translation
If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
10. If you are unable to practice in this manner, then perform transcendental services for Me. Performing activities for My pleasure, you will attain perfection.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
10. If you are unable to practice in this manner, then perform your activities for Me, taking that as the goal of your life. Performing activities for My pleasure, you will attain association with Me.
Purport
One who is not able even to practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, under the guidance of a spiritual master, can still be drawn to this perfectional stage by working for the Supreme Lord. How to do this work has already been explained in the fifty-fifth verse of the Eleventh Chapter. One should be sympathetic to the propagation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There are many devotees who are engaged in the propagation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they require help. So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Kṛṣṇa. The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Kṛṣṇa consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
“As the tongue contaminated by jaundice does not like sugar candy, so the mind contaminated by ignorance does not accept Your form, even though it is sweet. Therefore, it is not possible for me to combat this very strong, uncontrollable mind.”
“If you should think in this way, then I answer with these words.”
“Become engaged in My supreme activities, in activities meant for the highest benefit (mat-karma-paramaḥ). Doing services (karmāṇi kurvan) such as hearing and singing about Me, bowing to Me, worshiping Me, sweeping and washing My temple, picking flowers, [Note: These are external activities of bhakti.] even without remembrance of Me as previously described, you will attain perfection (siddhim), characterized by being one of My associates in prema.”
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
“As the mind is fickle like the wind, I do not have the power to restrain it.”
If you cannot gradually fix the mind by practice, be a person whose activities, being offered to Me, lead to the highest goal (mat karma paramaḥ). Such activities were previously described as building My temple and watering My flower garden. [Note: This was mentioned in chapter eleven, verse 55: mat karma kṛt.] When you do these activities which are easily performed on My behalf, by the power of directing all those activities to My very attractive form, your mind will become absorbed in Me, that attractive form, and you will attain a position close to Me (siddhim). By this method one can very easily attain Me.
Surrender Unto Me
This stage is: just work for Krsna. Working for Krsna is when one gives up his work and do what Krsna wants him to do. If one does that, he will come to the perfect stage of always thinking about Krsna. If one is not advanced enough to be always thinking of Krsna, then he should practice thinking of Krsna. But if he cannot even do that then he should work for Krsna. This would be 'niskama karma‑yoga'
[4. Surrendering to Krsna the results of one's work. (11) ]