Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.8.48
Ūti· What drives us to actUse This Temporary Body to Serve
“King Yudhiṣṭhira said: O my lot! I am the most sinful man! Just see my heart, which is full of ignorance! This body, which is ultimately meant for others, has killed many, many phalanxes of men.”
What the purport teaches
- Although the most pious king, Yudhiṣṭhira took responsibility for the many lives lost. The battle had been fought to restore him to the throne.
- The body is ultimately meant for others. While alive, it is meant for their service; after death, it becomes food for other creatures.
- Yudhiṣṭhira lamented that so many had been killed for the sake of such a temporary body. His words express deep sorrow over the cost of his becoming king.
Try this today
Use your hands today to complete one helpful task for another person.
Ask yourself
How am I using this temporary body for the service of 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.