Karma and Bhakti

 

Why should we try to attain Krishna? Because if we can get complete reality, we can get everything. By getting whom, we get all; by knowing whom, we know all — that is Krishna. We will not want anything else.

All our desires will be fulfilled and our problems solved. Krishna has no material form; his form is transcendental. If there is no form in the cause, then there can be no form in the effect either. God has infinite form. We can never find happiness independent of Him. When we take the merits of our actions for our own self, it is called karma — it is not bhakti.

The results of all our actions should go to the Supreme Lord, not to our own pocket. Someone may work throughout day and night and an observer might say, ‘This person is a very good servitor.’ But if he is doing this work to satisfy his own material ego, then it is not bhakti.

We should be free from all kinds of material identification. Vinirmuktam means there should not be even a scent of material ego. If there is even a touch of material ego, there is no question of bhakti — it will be karma.

Bhakti is the best devotion: one should be free from non-devotional desires of any kind. Radharani is the most perfect form of Krishna’s potency. She is the highest devotee, and we have to take shelter with Radha, her sakhis and manjaris (friends and maids). When, like them, we have given ourselves completely to Krishna, then whatever we do after that will be devotion.