Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.8.5
Ūti· What drives us to actUnderstand Life Beyond the Present Body
“O great saintly person, you have compiled the astrological knowledge by which one can understand past and present unseen things. By the strength of this knowledge, any human being can understand what he has done in his past life and how it affects his present life. This is known to you.”
What the purport teaches
- Life is eternal, but in the material world one changes from one body to another. A sober person understands Kṛṣṇa’s teaching and is not bewildered by this change.
- Our present position will not last, so we must be careful how we act. Although the body is temporary, life within it brings material suffering.
- Garga Muni’s astrological knowledge could reveal unseen events of past, present and future. Nanda Mahārāja wanted to use this opportunity to provide for the happiness of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
Try this today
Before one action today, pause and consider its consequences beyond immediate enjoyment.
Ask yourself
How would remembering that my present body is temporary change my choices?
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.