Anartha: things which are not wanted. Artha means wanted, something wanted; anartha means that is not wanted. So we are habituated to so many things, bad habits. So anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt. This is the result of bhajana-kriyā. Anartha. Anartha. Just like these things, as we prohibit—illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling—these are anarthas. They are not required actually. But people are habituated to these things on account of bad association.
So if you associate with a really sādhu, if you execute really devotional service, these anarthas will be vanquished. That is the symptom. No more illicit sex. No more intoxication. No more gambling. No more meat-eating, fish-eating, egg-eating. No. That is called anartha. People are not dying for want . . . for want of cigarette smoking. But it is habit. You can give it up. You can give up so many things which is not required at all.
So these unwanted things will be automatically vanquished. This is the result of bhajana-kriyā. Not that I am chanting one hand Hare Kṛṣṇa, and in another hand smoking. This is not anartha-nivṛtti. The . . . if actually you are chanting, there will be no more in the other hand smoking bīḍī or cigarette. This is called anartha-nivṛtti. Then after anartha-nivṛtti, then you become cleansed. Yeṣām anta-gataṁ pāpam. This is called the freedom stage from all sinful activities. Because unless you are free from all sinful activities, we cannot engage ourself in devotional service.
- yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
- janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
- te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
- bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ
- (BG 7.28)
The bhajana, devotional service, is possible when one is freed from these anarthas, unwanted things. Tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ athāsaktis tato bhāvaḥ, sādhakānām ayaṁ premṇaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ (Brs. 1.4.15-16).
So these are the different steps of śraddhā. Actually, devotional service means increasing your faith more and more. And these are the steps. The first step is that you must associate with devotees and then take to bhajana-kriyā. Then see, examine yourself that whether you are free from all the anarthas, all the unwanted things. If all the unwanted things are vanquished, then you'll have firm faith.