naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ na śobhate jñānam alaṁ nirañjanam kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam
Synonyms
naiṣkarmyam—self-realisation being freed from the reaction of fruitive work; api—inspite of; acyuta—the infallible Lord; bhāva—cenception; varjitam—devoid of; na—does not; śobhate—look well; jñānam—knowledge transcendental; alam—by the by; nirañjanam—free from designations; kutaḥ—where is; punaḥ—again; śaśvat—always; abhadram—uncongeneal; īśvare—unto the Lord; na—not; ca—and; arpitam—offered; karma—fruitive work; yat api—what is; akāraṇam—non-fruitive.
Translation
Knowledge of self-realisation even though it is freed from all material affinity, does not look well on account of being devoid of the conception of the infallible (God). Where is then any utility of fruitive activities which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature,—if they are not utilised for the devotional service of the Lord.
Purport
As referred to above not only ordinary literatures devoid of the transcendental glorification of the Lord, are condemned but also vedic literatures and speculation on the subject of impersonal Brahman, when they are devoid of devotional service, are also similarly condemned on account of such spiritual vacuum. When speculation on the impersonal Brahman is condemned on the above ground then what to speak about ordinary fruitive work if it is not meant for fulfilling the aim of devotional service. Such speculative knowledge and fruitive work cannot lead one to the goal of perfection. Fruitive work in which almost all people in general are engaged, is always painful either in the beginning or at the end, They can only be fruitful when they are made subservient to the devotional service of the Lord. In the Bhagwat Geeta also this is confirmed that the result of such fruitive work may be offered for the service of the Lord, otherwise they are all meant for material bondage. The bonafide enjoyer, of the fruitive work, is the Personality of Godhead and as such fruitive result when it is engaged in the sense gratification of the living beings, all such results become acute sources of trouble for such false enjoyer.