Prabhupāda: Arthārthī, yes. Ārto jijñāsur jñānī ca bharatarṣabha (BG 7.16). This is not pure devotee, but they are pious. One who goes to the temple and prays to God for some material profit, they are also pious. They are not sinful. But those who are sinful, they do not go even to the temple. They think, "What is this temple nonsense? We shall earn money." Our present government is encouraging this method that, "Why should you go to temple and waste your time? If you want money, then take to industries, work hard like an ass, and you get money." That is the policy going on. But Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says, "No, no, no, this is not good. To work so hard like dogs and hogs . . ." Especially Śrīmad-Bhāgavata has mentioned the word "hog," "pig." Nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye (SB 5.5.1). Viḍ-bhujām. Viṭ, viṭ means stool. Stool—bhujam, "one who eats stool." That means the pigs. So they are working very hard, day and night, to find out where is stool. "How to eat? How to eat? How to def . . . how to sleep?" This is their philosophy.
But actually, human life is not meant for that purpose. And to reduce some work, sometimes we think that, "Let me go to the temple. If God or some demigod becomes very pleased upon me, then quickly I shall get the benefit." That is mentioned here, kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhim. This is also mentioned in the Vedas that, "If you want success in this line, then worship this demigod. If you want beautiful wife, then worship Umā. If you want . . ." They're all listed. I don't remember just now, but these are recommended. These are recommended. Therefore, according to Vedic system, if you worship some demigod for some particular purpose, that is recommended. But Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā that antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām (BG 7.23). Antavat tu phalaṁ teṣām. If you get some profit, material profit . . . You can get it very easily. Therefore it is said, kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ, kṣipraṁ hi mānuṣe loke. Just like . . . that is the difference between worshiping Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the demigods. There are many examples. Just like Lord Śiva. One demon, or a devotee of Lord Śiva . . . but generally, we find in the śāstras . . . just like Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa was a great devotee of Lord Śiva, recognized. But he's accepted as a demon, rākṣasa. Although he was a great devotee, Mahīśāsura . . . he was also a great devotee of Goddess Durgā, but it is described as asura.
So according to śāstra it is said there are two divisions of men: deva and asura. Deva means the devotee of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu-bhaktaḥ bhaved daiva āsuras tad-viparyayaḥ (Padma Purāṇa). So it is very interesting. By worshiping different demigods, we get immediate result. We immediate . . . just like the Bhasmāsura. He was a great devotee of Lord Śiva, and when he was . . . Lord Śiva was perfectly worshiped, he wanted to give him some benediction, and he asked Lord Śiva that, "Please give me this benediction that on the head of anyone, if I place my hand, immediately his head will be gone, vanished, vanquished." So Lord Śiva is known as Āśutoṣa. Āśutoṣa means very quickly, very easily he becomes pleased. That is Lord Śiva's great qualification. And if anyone wants anything, even it is very obnoxious, he grants, "All right, take it."
So Lord Śiva gave him the benediction, "Yes, your . . . I give you this benediction." So then he wanted to test it. So he said: "Sir, let me place my hand upon your head." (laughter) So Lord Śiva was in danger. You see? Then he went to Lord Viṣṇu, "Please save me. I . . . this man took benediction from me, and now he wants to place his hand upon my head." So viṣṇu-māyā is very intricate. So Lord Viṣṇu saved Lord Śiva and informed the devotee, "This is not possible. Why don't you test by touching your own head?" Then as soon as he placed his hand on his own head, his head was vanished.
So here the people want to take immediate some benefit by worshiping different demigods, but he does not know what is the result, neither the demigods know. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says . . . you'll find in the Eighth Chapter that, antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām (BG 7.23). Alpa-medhasa means one whose brain substance is very small. This is very true.