Text 10 

abhyase ’py asamartho ’si
mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmani
kurvan siddhim avapsyasi

Translation

If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage. 

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada 

One who is not able even to practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, under the guidance of a spiritual master, can still be drawn to this perfectional stage by working for the Supreme Lord. How to do this work has already been explained in the fifty-fifth verse of the Eleventh Chapter. One should be sympathetic to the propagation of Krishna consciousness. There are many devotees who are engaged in the propagation of Krishna consciousness, and they require help. So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Krishna. 

The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krishna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krishna consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Krishna consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Krishna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

"As the tongue contaminated by jaundice does not like sugar candy, so the mind contaminated by ignorance does not accept your form, though it is sweet. Therefore, it is not possible for me to fight with this very strong, uncontrollable mind."

"If you should think in this way, then I answer with these words."

mat-karma-paramah means "my supreme activities, beyond the modes of nature." Be a person who engages in my supreme activities. Doing services such as hearing and singing about me, bowing to me, worshiping me, sweeping and washing my temple, picking flowers, even without remembrance of me previously described, you will attain perfection (siddhim), characterized by being one of my associates in prema.