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One can be liberated from all adverse circumstances simply by
seriously engaging in devotional service. How this devotional service
develops and becomes mature is explained here. In the beginning one
has to perform his prescribed duties with a clean mind. Clean
consciousness means Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One has to perform his
prescribed duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is no necessity of
changing one's prescribed duties; one simply has to act in Kṛṣṇa
consciousness.

In discharging Kṛṣṇa conscious duties, one should determine
whether, by his professional or occupational duties, Kṛṣṇa, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, is satisfied. In another place in the
Bhāgavatam it is said, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saḿsiddhir
hari-toṣaṇam: [SB 1.2.13] everyone has some prescribed duties to
perform, but the perfection of such duties will be reached only if the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is satisfied by such actions.
For example, Arjuna's prescribed duty was to fight, and the perfection
of his fighting was tested by the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa
wanted him to fight, and when he fought for the satisfaction of the
Lord, that was the perfection of his professional devotional duty. On
the other hand, when, contrary to the wish of Kṛṣṇa, he was not
willing to fight, that was imperfect.

If one wants to perfect his life, he should discharge his prescribed
duties for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. One must act in Kṛṣṇa
consciousness, for such action will never produce any reaction
(animitta-nimittena). This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā.
Yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra: all activities should be performed simply
for Yajña, or the satisfaction of Viṣṇu. Anything done otherwise,
without the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, or Yajña, produces bondage, so
here it is also prescribed by Kapila Muni that one can transcend
material entanglement by acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which means
seriously engaging in devotional service. This serious devotional
service can develop by hearing for long periods of time. Chanting and
hearing is the beginning of the process of devotional service. One
should associate with devotees and hear from them about the Lord's
transcendental appearance, activities, disappearance, instructions,
etc.

There are two kinds of śruti, or scripture. One is spoken by the Lord,
and the other is spoken about the Lord and His devotees. Bhagavad-gītā
is the former and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the latter. One must hear these
scriptures repeatedly from reliable sources in order to become fixed
in serious devotional service. Through engagement in such devotional
service, one becomes freed from the contamination of māyā. It is
stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that hearing about the Supreme
Personality of Godhead cleanses the heart of all contamination caused
by the influence of the three modes of material nature.

- Srimad Bhagavatam 3.27.21 (Purport)