Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.13.56
Mukti· LiberationDevotional Service Is Beyond Material Reactions
“He will have to suspend all the actions of the senses, even from the outside, and will have to be impervious to interactions of the senses, which are influenced by the modes of material nature. After renouncing all material duties, he must become immovably established, beyond all sources of hindrances on the path.”
What the purport teaches
- The material modes of nature draw us toward repeated desires for material enjoyment. With every sense searching for its food, the conditioned soul struggles to remain steady.
- Dhṛtarāṣṭra had become free from material attraction through the yogic process. Nārada advised Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira not to disturb him by trying to bring him home.
- Spiritual action is called devotional service, or bhakti. It is nirguṇa, without material reaction, because it brings direct contact with the Absolute.
Try this today
Set aside one distracting sense pleasure today and use that time for devotional service.
Ask yourself
How does the constant search for sense enjoyment disturb my steadiness in devotional service?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.