Verse Text
mṛdu-śraddhasya kathitā svalpā karmādhikāritā |
tad-arpitaṁ harau dāsyam iti kaiścid udīryate ||186||
Translation
Some persons say that this offering of duties by a person with weak faith in bhakti and a slight qualification for prescribed duties is called dāsya.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
…Since it has already been stated that pure bhakti should not be covered by jṣāna or karma, this type of dāsya cannot be accepted in uttama-bhakti. This type of person has weak faith. That means the person lacks firm faith that by bhakti to the Lord alone everything is accomplished.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Actually, japa and meditation are considered aṅgas of pure bhakti even without offering them (after performance). However, offering the auspicious items among the prescribed duties are not aṅgas of bhakti. Therefore, the author does not approve the first type of offering mentioned in the previous verse. That is stated in this verse. Some people call this offering with weak faith dāsyam. This is a summary description of the first type of offering mentioned in verse 185. However, this is very different from the offerings of real dāsya mentioned in the following verse:
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye ’dhītam uttamam
Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu; remembering them; serving the lotus feet of the Lord; offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia; offering prayers to the Lord; becoming His servant; considering the Lord as one’s best friend; and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes offered to the Lord by a person are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge. SB 7.5.23-24
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Those who are engaged in fruitive activities, or prescribed duties according to the four orders of social and spiritual life, are not actually pure devotees. But still, because they are offering the result to the Lord, they are accepted as devotees. When one has no such desire, but acts spontaneously out of love of God, such a person must be accepted as a pure devotee. The conditioned souls who have come into contact with the material world are all more or less desirous of lording it over material nature. The system of varṇāśrama and the prescribed duties under this system are so designed that the conditioned soul may enjoy in the material world according to his desire for sense gratification and at the same time gradually become elevated to spiritual understanding. Under these prescribed duties of varṇa and āśrama there are many activities which belong to devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Those devotees who are householders accept Vedic ritualistic performances as well as the prescribed duties of devotional service, because both are meant for satisfying Kṛṣṇa. When householder devotees perform some Vedic ritualistic duties, they do so to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. As we have previously discussed, any activity aiming at satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead is considered devotional service.
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī describes one who is fit for becoming engaged in devotional service. He says that persons who are neophytes and who have developed a little love of Godhead are not interested in the activities of sense gratification, in proportion to their devotion. But if there is still some attraction for sense gratifying activities, then the result of such activities should be offered to Kṛṣṇa. This is also called engagement in the service of the Lord, with the Lord as the master and the worker as the servant.