SB 8.6.12

yathāgnim edhasy amṛtaṁ ca goṣu
bhuvy annam ambūdyamane ca vṛttim
yogair manuṣyā adhiyanti hi tvāṁ
guṇeṣu buddhyā kavayo vadanti

yathāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyathā

according to; accordingly as; and as; anywhere; as (He likes); as; as advised by his father; as also; as far as possible; as far as; as follows; as has; as He desires; as if; as if it were; as is; as it; as it is; as it is now; as it should have been; as it was; as it was done; as it were; as many; as much; as much as (deserved); as much as; as requested; as they are; as they told it; as they were; as well as; as you; by which; development of austerity and penance; duly; even as; exactly as; exactly like; fittingly; for the forefathers and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; how; in any manner; in order that; in the matter of; in what way; in which manner; in which way; in whichever manner; inasmuch as; just as; just as if; just like; like; like Him; or just as; properly; since; so; so that; so you inform me; the manner in which; where; wherever; without deviation.—as; agnimplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigagnim

fire; into the fire; the fire; the flames; unto the sacred fire; upon the fire.—fire; edhasiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigedhasi

fuel; in wood.—in wood; amṛtamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigamṛtam

Amṛta; deathlessness; eternal life; eternity of life; generation of the nectar; giving pleasure; happiness; immortality; indestructible; milk, which is like nectar; nectar; nectar for eternal life; nectar or milk; nectarean; never to be vanquished; the ambrosia; the embodiment of bliss; the nectar; the path of eternal life; the profession of amṛta; the results of sacrifice; understanding; very sweet; without deterioration.—milk, which is like nectar; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—and; goṣuplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggoṣu

from cows; unto the cows.—from cows; bhuviplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbhuvi

everywhere; in the material world; in the world; in this earth; in this world; on earth; on the earth; on the earth, the home of human beings; on the ground; on the planet earth; on the surface of the earth; on the surface of the globe; on the surface of the world; on this earth; on this planet; over the universe; touching the ground; upon this earth; within the earth; within this world.—on the ground; annamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigannam

prasāda; eatable; eatables; food; food grains; foodstuff (prasāda); foodstuff; fruitive action; grains; the food; the sacrificial oblations.—food grains; ambuplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigambu

like drops of water; water; with the water.—water; udyamaneplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigudyamane

in enterprise.—in enterprise; caplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigca

ca; all these; also; also other bodily forms; also that I have not been able to ask; and (the five gross material elements and the ten acting and knowledge-gathering senses); and; and also; and Devahūti; and for all; and the paraphernalia; as also; as much as; as well; as well as; but; certainly; either; however; indeed; only; or; over and above; respectively; the word ca; this word ca; thus; totally; unlimitedly; verily.—also; vṛttimplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvṛttim

better existence; business of livelihood; good engagement; livelihood; means of livelihood; occupation; professions; source of livelihood; the means of livelihood; the necessities of the body; the profession.—livelihood; yogaiḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigyogaiḥ

by devotional service; by mystic yogīs (as the Paramātmā situated everywhere); by mystic yogīs; by practice of bhakti-yoga; by the rectifying processes; by various processes; mystic powers.—by practice of bhakti-yoga; manuṣyāḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmanusyah

a human being; human being; the person.—human beings; adhiyantiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigadhiyanti

achieve.—achieve; hiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bighi

addressed; all; also; and above all; and exactly; as a matter of fact; assuredly; because; because of which; certainly; certainly are; exactly; exactly like; for; for this reason; from which; in deed; in fact; indeed (You can be realized by the devotees); indeed; is certainly; only; positively; reason of; since; surely; than; though; thus; undoubtedly; without fail.—indeed; tvāmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtvam

establishment of the statement tat tvam asi.—You; guṇeṣuplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigguṇeṣu

(the mind, not being liberated, becomes attached) to the material qualities; in sense gratification; in the material manifestation, consisting of the three modes of nature; in the material modes of nature; in the material world, manifested by the modes of nature; in the modes; in the modes of different qualities; in the modes of material nature; in the modes of nature; in the qualities; in the three modes of nature; of the material world, which is moving because of the three modes of nature; the modes of material nature; the objects of sense gratification under the modes of material nature; to the modes; while the modes.—in the material modes of nature; buddhyāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigbuddhyā

and intelligence; by intelligence; by proper intelligence; by so-called intelligence or experimental knowledge; by the intelligence; intelligence; through reason; with intelligence; with the intelligence.—by intelligence; kavayaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkavayaḥ

all transcendentalists; and Kavi; expert thinkers; great learned sages; great learned scholars; great personalities; great philosophers; great, great sages and saintly persons; learned devotees; learned men; learned persons; learned scholars; philosophers or learned scholars; the advancement of learned scholars or philosophers in spiritual life; the devotees; the great learned persons who have perfect intelligence; the greatly learned sages; the intelligent; the learned; the learned scholars; those well versed in rituals; those who are expert.—great personalities; vadantiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvadanti

all learned men say; are lodging this complaint; do say; do they say; explain; say; the great learned sages say; the learned Vedic scholars conclude; they call; they say; they say authoritatively; they speak; they suggest (in regard to one's means of livelihood).—say. ¶

As one can derive fire from wood, milk from the milk bag of the cow, food grains and water from the land, and prosperity in one’s livelihood from industrial enterprises, so, by the practice of bhakti-yoga, even within this material world, one can achieve Your favor or intelligently approach You. Those who are pious all affirm this. ¶

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is nirguṇa, not to be found within this material world, the entire material world is pervaded by Him, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam). The material world is nothing but an expansion of the Lord’s material energy, and the entire cosmic manifestation rests upon Him (mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni [Bg. 9.4]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.4

By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.). Nonetheless, the Supreme Lord cannot be found here (na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ). A devotee, however, can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the practice of bhakti-yoga. One ordinarily does not begin to practice bhakti-yoga unless he has practiced it in previous births. Moreover, one can begin bhakti-yoga only by the mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa. Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.151

"According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.. The seed of devotional service is obtainable by the mercy of guru, the spiritual master, and Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ¶

Only by the practice of bhakti-yoga can one achieve the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and see Him face to face (premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]). One cannot see the Lord by other methods, such as karma, jñāna or yoga. Under the direction of the spiritual master, one must cultivate bhakti-yoga (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.5.23-24

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.). Then, even within this material world, although the Lord is not visible, a devotee can see Him. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ [Bg. 18.55]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 18.55

One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.) and in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ). Thus by devotional service one can achieve the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He is not visible or understandable to materialistic persons. ¶

In this verse, the cultivation of bhakti-yoga is compared to many material activities. By friction one can get fire from wood, by digging the earth one can get food grains and water, and by agitating the milk bag of the cow one can get nectarean milk. Milk is compared to nectar, which one can drink to become immortal. Of course, simply drinking milk will not make one immortal, but it can increase the duration of one’s life. In modern civilization, men do not think milk to be important, and therefore they do not live very long. Although in this age men can live up to one hundred years, their duration of life is reduced because they do not drink large quantities of milk. This is a sign of Kali-yuga. In Kali-yuga, instead of drinking milk, people prefer to slaughter an animal and eat its flesh. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His instructions of Bhagavad-gītā, advises go-rakṣya, which means cow protection. The cow should be protected, milk should be drawn from the cows, and this milk should be prepared in various ways. One should take ample milk, and thus one can prolong one’s life, develop his brain, execute devotional service, and ultimately attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is essential to get food grains and water by digging the earth, it is also essential to give protection to the cows and take nectarean milk from their milk bags. ¶

The people of this age are inclined toward industrial enterprises for comfortable living, but they refuse to endeavor to execute devotional service, by which they can achieve the ultimate goal of life by returning home, back to Godhead. Unfortunately, as it is said, na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ [SB 7.5.31]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.5.31

Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Viṣṇu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.. People without spiritual education do not know that the ultimate goal of life is to go back home, back to Godhead. Forgetting this aim of life, they are working very hard in disappointment and frustration (moghāśā mogha-karmāṇo mogha jñānā vicetasaḥ [Bg. 9.12]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 9.12

Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.). The so-called vaiśyas—the industrialists or businessmen—are involved in big, big industrial enterprises, but they are not interested in food grains and milk. However, as indicated here, by digging for water, even in the desert, we can produce food grains; when we produce food grains and vegetables, we can give protection to the cows; while giving protection to the cows, we can draw from them abundant quantities of milk; and by getting enough milk and combining it with food grains and vegetables, we can prepare hundreds of nectarean foods. We can happily eat this food and thus avoid industrial enterprises and joblessness. ¶

Agriculture and cow protection are the way to become sinless and thus be attracted to devotional service. Those who are sinful cannot be attracted by devotional service. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (Bg. 7.28)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBhagavad-gītā As It Is 7.28

Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.: ¶

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ

“Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.” The majority of people in this age of Kali are sinful, short-living, unfortunate and disturbed (mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ [SB 1.1.10]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.1.10

O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.). For them, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has advised: ¶

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
[Cc. Ādi 17.21]plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 17.21

" 'In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.'

“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” ¶