Success in work means pleasing Krishna through dutiful service in one's natural occupation.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Room Conversation — July 16, 1968, Montreal 680716R1-MONTREAL [83:26 Minutes] Prabhupāda: Very soon we shall have our own publication, Macmillan Company. [pause] What is your report? Devotee (1): I had a rough day today.
Prabhupāda: Huh? Devotee (1): I didn't get any new members today. I went all over... I went over to McGill, and not very many teachers, professors there, know about the temple, especially the chemistry professors.
I don't think chemistry professors go too well with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Prabhupāda: No. Every... You have to convince them that chemistry or philosophy or anything, without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is all useless. Sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate parām [Bg. 18.46]. [By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection.] That verse I was explaining, that, ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam [SB 1.2.13] [O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.] Taste for... [pause] Oh, so many? Govinda dāsī: Earlier you said you wanted it. Prabhupāda: Huh?
So he is recording there. Govinda dāsī: Oh, I thought you wanted a Dictaphone? If not, I can... Devotee (2): It must be better if you were recorded Swamji, [indistinct]... Some problem. Prabhupāda: Hmm? Hmm?
What is that? Devotee (2): I think a tape recorder is better than a Dictaphone, because I think a tape recording is better. Prabhupāda: Tape recording is going on? Devotee (1): Yes. Prabhupāda: You can sit down. So everyone is working. Never mind in whatever occupation one is engaged. That doesn't matter.
But one has to test whether he is becoming successful. Because everyone wants success. We are not animals, that without any success we shall work hard labor. That is animals' business.