Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.1.5
Nirodha· Winding upDevotional Qualification Matters More Than Birth
“My dear King Parīkṣit, when the supreme almighty Lord, whose desire always comes to pass, had thus made up His mind, He withdrew His own family on the pretext of a curse spoken by an assembly of brāhmaṇas.”
What the purport teaches
- The intentions of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇacandra, are always perfect. He withdrew His own family on the pretext of a brāhmaṇas’ curse for the greatest benefit of the world.
- Every living entity is eternally a member of the Lord’s family. Birth in Kṛṣṇa’s personal family does not by itself qualify someone to be a spiritual master.
- Spiritual advancement means surrendering to a pure devotee who represents the Lord. Respect should follow the qualities of pure devotional service, not family lineage.
Try this today
Write down one devotional quality, rather than a family connection, that makes a spiritual teacher worthy of respect.
Ask yourself
Do I give more importance to someone’s family background or to their actual qualities of 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.