Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.24.13
Ūti· What drives us to actKṛṣṇa Draws Devotees’ Attention to Himself
“Lord Kṛṣṇa said: It is by the force of karma that a living entity takes birth, and it is by karma alone that he meets his destruction. His happiness, distress, fear and sense of security all arise as the effects of karma.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa describes birth, death, happiness, distress, fear and security as effects of karma. The purport identifies this argument as Karma-vāda or Karma-mīmāṁsā.
- This philosophy treats rewards and punishments for action as the sum and substance of reality. Being God Himself, Kṛṣṇa was not seriously endorsing it but teasing His pure devotees.
- Kṛṣṇa wanted to remove Indra’s false pride and remind His eternal devotees that they need not turn toward other gods. They were already living with the Supreme Absolute Truth Himself.
Try this today
Set aside a quiet minute today to direct your attention to Kṛṣṇa rather than to the material results you want.
Ask yourself
What draws my attention away from Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.