Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.20.27-28
Mukti· LiberationRemain Faithful While Attachments Fade
“Having awakened faith in the narrations of My glories, being disgusted with all material activities, knowing that all sense gratification leads to misery, but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, My devotee should remain happy and worship Me with great faith and conviction. Even though he is sometimes engaged in sense enjoyment, My devotee knows that all sense gratification leads to a miserable result, and he sincerely repents such activities.”
What the purport teaches
- A beginning devotee may know that sense gratification brings misery yet still struggle with old habits. The Lord encourages such a devotee to sincerely repent, avoid willing sinful activity and continue loving service enthusiastically.
- Pleasing Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must remain more important than cultivating knowledge or detachment. Firm faith in His mercy, joined with a sincere desire to give up sense enjoyment, carries the devotee past obstacles.
- Faithful hearing and chanting of the Lord’s glories gradually free one from material desire. Even while attachments remain, a sincere devotee resolves never to abandon devotional service and patiently awaits Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes hearing or chanting Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories, and pray to continue serving Him faithfully while He purifies your attachments.
Ask yourself
When attachments trouble me, do I keep pleasing Lord Kṛṣṇa as my goal rather than becoming absorbed in discouragement or renunciation?
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.