Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.15.39
Mukti· LiberationArrange Life Around Returning to Godhead
“Then he posted Vajra, the son of Aniruddha [grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa], at Mathurā as the King of Śūrasena. Afterwards Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira performed a Prājāpatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life.”
What the purport teaches
- After arranging qualified leadership, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira accepted the renounced order of life. He voluntarily left administration to prepare for the next life.
- Varṇāśrama-dharma includes four occupational divisions and four orders of life. The orders of brahmacārya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa apply irrespective of one’s occupation.
- Life should be arranged so that its final stage can be fully devoted to the Lord’s devotional service. Absorption in work for material enjoyment keeps one bound, whereas the highest perfection is returning home, back to Godhead.
Try this today
Review today’s schedule and dedicate one small block of time to devotional service rather than material enjoyment.
Ask yourself
How could your present arrangements better support lifelong 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.