Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.87.34
Mukti· LiberationFind Real Satisfaction in Serving the Lord
“To those persons who take shelter of You, You reveal Yourself as the Supersoul, the embodiment of all transcendental pleasure. What further use have such devotees for their servants, children or bodies, their wives, money or houses, their land, good health or conveyances? And for those who fail to appreciate the truth about You and go on pursuing the pleasures of sex, what could there be in this entire world — a place inherently doomed to destruction and devoid of significance — that could give them real happiness?”
What the purport teaches
- Devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu is pure when one's sole desire is to please Him. True renunciation means fixing the mind upon the Supreme Lord without seeking material designations or rewards.
- Wealth, a beautiful body, a prestigious home and other signs of worldly success lose their attraction as one experiences devotional service. The Supreme Lord is the reservoir of all pleasure and shares His pleasures with His servants.
- We can dedicate our body, mind, words, talents and wealth to God's glory, or struggle for separate personal happiness. The latter path cannot satisfy the soul, and Vaiṣṇavas compassionately strive to enlighten those who suffer.
Try this today
Use one talent today in a small act of service, with the intention of pleasing the Supreme Lord rather than gaining recognition.
Ask yourself
Which worldly gain am I expecting to give me the satisfaction found in serving the 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.