Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.6.37
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSurrender Brings True Freedom
“Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus addressing Vyāsadeva, Śrīla Nārada Muni took leave of him, and vibrating on his vīṇā instrument, he left to wander at his free will.”
What the purport teaches
- Every living being desires full freedom because freedom belongs to the soul’s transcendental nature. Under illusion, the conditioned soul thinks himself free while remaining bound by nature’s laws.
- Nārada constantly chants the Lord’s glories and moves freely throughout the material and spiritual worlds. True freedom comes through transcendental service to the Lord.
- Devotional service and the association of devotees cannot be secured merely by following formulas. Surrender to the Lord through the spiritual master brings complete freedom of life.
Try this today
Take a quiet minute to offer your willingness to serve the Lord, remembering that surrender is the path to true freedom.
Ask yourself
How does this teaching challenge my usual idea of freedom?
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.