Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.3.43
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyLearn Duty Through Authorized Vedic Hearing
“Śrī Āvirhotra replied: Prescribed duties, nonperformance of such duties, and forbidden activities are topics one can properly understand through authorized study of the Vedic literature. This difficult subject matter can never be understood by mundane speculation. The authorized Vedic literature is the sound incarnation of the Personality of Godhead Himself, and thus Vedic knowledge is perfect. Even the greatest learned scholars are bewildered in their attempts to understand the science of action if they neglect the authority of Vedic knowledge.”
What the purport teaches
- Karma means prescribed duty, akarma means failure to perform one's highest duty, and vikarma means forbidden activity. These distinctions come from authorized Vedic explanations, not merely from ordinary logic.
- Vedic knowledge is the eternal sound manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is transcendental and free from mistakes, illusion, cheating and imperfect senses.
- The meaning of Vedic knowledge is understood by hearing from standard authorities in disciplic succession. Even learned scholars become bewildered when they neglect this process.
Try this today
Reread this verse and purport slowly, then write down the distinction between karma, akarma and vikarma.
Ask yourself
When deciding what I should do, do I seek authorized guidance or rely only on my own reasoning?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.