Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.8.41
Mukti· LiberationBroaden Affection Through Devotional Service
“O Lord of the universe, soul of the universe, O personality of the form of the universe, please, therefore, sever my tie of affection for my kinsmen, the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrīmatī Kuntīdevī was troubled by partiality toward her sons and her paternal family. She prayed that the Lord cut the strong tie of family affection.
- A pure devotee cuts off limited family ties and widens devotional service for all forgotten souls. This means broadening the field of service, not merely abandoning affection.
- The Lord of the universe can cut the hard knot of family attachment. By making a devotee completely dependent on Him, He clears the path back to Godhead.
Try this today
Offer one small act of help today to someone outside your family, with a prayer to broaden your devotional service.
Ask yourself
Where might family partiality be limiting my willingness to serve others?
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.