Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.5.34 · one of the 108 chosen verses
Mukti· LiberationTurn Binding Work Into Devotional Service
“Thus when all a man’s activities are dedicated to the service of the Lord, those very activities which caused his perpetual bondage become the destroyer of the tree of work.”
What the purport teaches
- Work done to enjoy its fruits is like a deeply rooted banyan tree. As long as this desire remains, the soul continues moving from one body to another according to its work.
- The desire for enjoyment can become the desire to serve the Lord’s mission. Dedicating the results of work to Him stops further karma and gradually develops into transcendental devotional service.
- Spiritual progress begins with the association and wholehearted service of pure devotees of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. Their mercy develops attachment to hearing His pastimes and knowledge of the soul’s eternal relationship with Him.
Try this today
Identify one result you expect from today’s work and write down a concrete way to use it in the Lord’s service.
Ask yourself
How could my desire to enjoy the result of a task become a desire to serve the Lord?
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.