Devotee (1): In Denver here we have many businesses going on for you. And we are out engaging karmīs in helping us retrieve lakṣmī. We are going to them for lakṣmī in so many ways. How is it that this engages them, or does it engage them in Kṛṣṇa's service? Do they make any benefit?
Prabhupāda: What they are doing by doing business? They are gṛhasthas doing business?
Brahmānanda: They are outsiders, karmīs, they manufacture jewelry and some shirts, for which they get a salary.
Devotee (1): Yes, but the devotees are maintaining the business. And I myself go out and talk to rascals all day long, demons, mlecchas. Am I engaging them in Kṛṣṇa's service by taking lakṣmī?
Prabhupāda: What you are doing with the money?
Devotee (1): I'm giving it to the temple president so that we can buy a farm for you.
Prabhupāda: No, if you are engaging the money for Kṛṣṇa, then it is all right.
Brahmānanda: He's asking about is there any benefit to the karmīs that he deals with because he engages in business activity with them? Do the karmīs get benefit?
Prabhupāda: Yes. To some extent they are helping Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
Yadubara: They also have this program in Pittsburg, the same thing. They come to the temple and manufacture jewelry.
Prabhupāda: Svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya. It is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā. You can see there. Everyone can work, but the result of the work should go to Kṛṣṇa. (break)
Devotee (1): ...lakṣmī from them so we can engage them more in Kṛṣṇa's service.
Prabhupāda: Provided you engage them for Kṛṣṇa's service. Otherwise the lakṣmī will kill you. Just like Sītā, Sītā is Lakṣmī. When Sītā was taken by Rāvaṇa, the result was the whole family was killed because they did not use Sītā for Rāma's service. (break)