SB 7.10.23 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

पित्र्यं च स्थानमातिष्ठ यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिभि: । मय्यावेश्य मनस्तात कुरु कर्माणि मत्पर: ॥ २३ ॥

Verse text

pitryaṁ ca sthānam ātiṣṭha yathoktaṁ brahmavādibhiḥ mayy āveśya manas tāta kuru karmāṇi mat-paraḥ

Synonyms

pitryam — paternal ; ca — also ; sthānam — place, throne ; ātiṣṭha — sit upon ; yathā — uktam — as described ; brahmavādibhiḥ — by the followers of Vedic civilization ; mayi — unto Me ; āveśya — being fully absorbed ; manaḥ — the mind ; tāta — My dear boy ; kuru — just execute ; karmāṇi — the regulative duties ; mat — paraḥ — just for the sake of My work .

Translation

After performing the ritualistic ceremonies, take charge of your father’s kingdom. Sit upon the throne and do not be disturbed by materialistic activities. Please keep your mind fixed upon Me. Without transgressing the injunctions of the Vedas, as a matter of formality you may perform your particular duties.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

O son! Take charge of your father's kingdom as directed by the brāhmaṇas. Fixing your mind upon me, dedicated to me, perform your duties. Though you as my devotee are not supposed to do karmas, by my order do karmas to maintain the custom, but be dedicated to me, without faith in those karmas (mat-paraḥ). By thinking of me, even if you do not do the karmas, they are performed. So do not worry.

Purport

When one becomes a devotee, he no longer has any duty to the Vedic regulative principles. One has many duties to perform, but if one becomes fully devoted to the Lord, he no longer has any such obligations. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41) : devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṝṇāṁ na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam One who has fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord is no longer a debtor to his forefathers, the great sages, human society, the common man or any living entity. The Supreme Personality of Godhead nonetheless advised Prahlāda Mahārāja to follow the regulative principles, for since he was going to be the king, others would follow his example. Thus Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva advised Prahlāda Mahārāja to engage in his political duties so that people would become the Lord’s devotees. yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” ( Bg. 3.21 ) One should not be attached to any materialistic activities, but a devotee may perform such activities as an example to show the common man that one should not deviate from the Vedic injunctions.