A SURRENDERED DEVOTEE HAS NO LONGER ANY DUTY TO THE VEDIC REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES

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Govinda Dasadasa
A SURRENDERED DEVOTEE HAS NO LONGER ANY DUTY TO THE VEDIC REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES--HE MAY PERFORM SUCH ACTIVITIES AS AN EXAMPLE TO SHOW THE COMMON MAN THAT ONE SHOULD NOT DEVIATE FROM THE VEDIC INJUNCTIONS.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam » Canto 7 » Chapter 10 » Text 23:
(Great sage Narada to King Yudhisthira):
Lord Nrsimhadeva to Prahlada Maharaja:
पित्र्यं च स्थानमातिष्ठ यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिभि: ।
मय्यावेश्य मनस्तात कुरु कर्माणि मत्पर: ॥ २३ ॥
pitryam ca sthanam atistha
yathoktam brahmavadibhih
mayy avesya manas tata
kuru karmani mat-parah
SYNONYMS
pitryam--paternal; ca--also; sthanam--place, throne; atistha--sit upon; yatha-uktam--as described; brahmavadibhih--by the followers of Vedic civilization; mayi--unto Me; avesya--being fully absorbed; manah--the mind; tata--My dear boy; kuru--just execute; karmani--the regulative duties; mat-parah--just for the sake of My work.
TRANSLATION
After performing the ritualistic ceremonies, take charge of your father's kingdom. Sit upon the throne and do not be disturbed by materialistic activities. Please keep your mind fixed upon Me. Without transgressing the injunctions of the Vedas, as a matter of formality you may perform your particular duties.
PURPORT
When one becomes a devotee, he no longer has any duty to the Vedic regulative principles. One has many duties to perform, but if one becomes fully devoted to the Lord, he no longer has any such obligations. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.41):
devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan
sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
One who has fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord is no longer a debtor to his forefathers, the great sages, human society, the common man or any living entity.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead nonetheless advised Prahlada Maharaja to follow the regulative principles, for since he was going to be the king, others would follow his example. Thus Lord Nrsimhadeva advised Prahlada Maharaja to engage in his political duties so that people would become the Lord's devotees.
yad yad acarati sresthas
tad tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam kurute
lokas tad anuvartate
"Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." (Bg. 3.21) One should not be attached to any materialistic activities, but a devotee may perform such activities as an example to show the common man that one should not deviate from the Vedic injunctions.
[Synonyms,Translation and Purport by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedantaswami Prabhupada reproduced herein by this menial servant.]

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