Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.81.37
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionDevotion Is More Precious Than Wealth
“To a devotee who lacks spiritual insight, the Supreme Lord will not grant the wonderful opulences of this world — kingly power and material assets. Indeed, in His infinite wisdom the unborn Lord well knows how the intoxication of pride can cause the downfall of the wealthy.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows that pride in wealth can cause downfall. He limits a sincere but less intelligent devotee’s wealth to what will promote devotional progress.
- Sudāmā humbly considered himself unworthy of pure devotional service, the Lord’s most rare and valuable benediction. Rather than taking his riches as proof of devotion, he remained wary of temptation.
- This humility assured Sudāmā success in bhakti-yoga through hearing and repeating Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories. Pure devotional service, not material opulence, remained the goal.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to read aloud about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories, giving devotional service priority over material concerns.
Ask yourself
Are you measuring spiritual success by outward comfort or by growing steadiness in devotional service?
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.