samÄna-karmÄcaraṇaá¹
patitÄnÄá¹ na pÄtakam
autpattiko guṇaḥ saṅgo
na Å›ayÄnaḥ pataty adhaḥ

 samÄna - equal; karma - of work; Äcaraṇam - the performance; patitÄnÄm - for those who are fallen; na - is not; pÄtakam - a cause of falldown; autpattikaḥ - dictated by one's nature; guṇaḥ - becomes a good quality; saá¹…gaḥ - material association; na - does not; Å›ayÄnaḥ - one who is lying down; patati - fall; adhaḥ - further down.


Text

The same activities that would degrade an elevated person do not cause falldown for those who are already fallen. Indeed, one who is lying on the ground cannot possibly fall further. The material association that is dictated by one’s own nature is considered a good quality.

Purport

The Lord here further describes the ambiguity in ascertaining material piety and sin. Although intimate association with women is most abominable for a renounced sannyÄsÄ«, the same association is pious for a householder, who is ordered by Vedic injunction to approach his wife at the suitable time for procreation. Similarly, a brÄhmaṇa who drinks liquor is considered to be committing a most abominable act, whereas a śūdra, a low-class man, who can moderate his drinking is considered to be self-controlled. Piety and sin on the material level are thus relative considerations. Any member of society, however, who receives dÄ«ká¹£Ä, initiation into the chanting of the Lord’s holy names, must strictly obey the four regulative principles: no eating of meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex, no intoxication and no gambling. A spiritually initiated person neglecting these principles will certainly fall from his elevated position of liberation.