Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.5.25
Mukti· LiberationPure Association Awakens a Taste for Devotion
“Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist became attractive to me.”
What the purport teaches
- By associating with the pure devotees and once eating their food remnants, the boy became purified. Their purity influenced him and made spiritual life attractive.
- Association with pure devotees removes obstacles to devotional service and awakens attraction for the Lord’s name, fame, qualities and pastimes. One should also be cautious about pseudodevotees.
- Through pure association, attraction develops into steadiness, spiritual taste, transcendental emotions and loving service to the Lord. As this taste grows, material activities lose their attraction.
Try this today
Spend five minutes hearing a pure devotee describe the Lord’s qualities, giving that hearing your full attention.
Ask yourself
What kind of association strengthens your attraction to the Lord rather than to material activities?
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.