Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.17.52
Mukti· LiberationCare for Family as the Lord’s Servant
“A householder taking care of many dependent family members should not become materially attached to them, nor should he become mentally unbalanced, considering himself to be the lord. An intelligent householder should see that all possible future happiness, just like that which he has already experienced, is temporary.”
What the purport teaches
- A householder should care for dependents without becoming materially attached or falsely proud of being their lord.
- One should remain sober and intelligent, remembering oneself to be the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord. Material enjoyment, here or in the next life, is temporary.
- A responsible householder should guide family members and other dependents back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.
Try this today
Before one act of family care today, pause and remember that you are the Supreme Lord’s eternal servant.
Ask yourself
Do I approach my family responsibilities as a servant of the Lord or as an independent 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.