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Chapter 18: Conclusion-The Perfection of Renunciation

Bg 18.57
TEXT 57
cetasa sarva-karmani
mayi sannyasya mat-parah
buddhi-yogam upasritya
mac-cittah satatam bhava
SYNONYMS
cetasä—by intelligence; sarva-karmäni—all kinds of activities; mayi—unto Me; sannyasya—giving up; mat-paraù—My protection; buddhi-yogam—devotional activities; upäçritya—taking shelter of; mat-cittaù—consciousness; satatam—twenty-four hours a day; bhava—just become.
TRANSLATION
In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.
PURPORT
When one acts in Kåñëa consciousness, he does not act as the master of the world. Just like a servant, one should act fully under the direction of the Supreme Lord. A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master has no affection for profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of the Lord. Now, one may argue that Arjuna was acting under the personal direction of Kåñëa, but, when Kåñëa is not present, how should one act? If one acts according to the direction of Kåñëa in this book, as well as under the guidance of the representative of Kåñëa, then the result will be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-paraù is very important in this verse. It indicates that one has no goal in life save and except acting in Kåñëa consciousness just to satisfy Kåñëa. And, while working in that way, one should think of Kåñëa only: "I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by Kåñëa." While acting in such a way, one naturally has to think of Kåñëa. This is perfect Kåñëa consciousness. One should, however, note that, after doing something whimsically, he should not offer the result to the Supreme Lord. That sort of duty is not in the devotional service of Kåñëa consciousness. One should act according to the order of Krñna. This is a very important point. That order of Kåñëa comes through disciplic succession from the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the spiritual master's order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If one gets a bona fide spiritual master and acts according to his direction, then his perfection of life in Kåñëa consciousness is guaranteed.

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Copyright (c) 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada