Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.21.5
Sarga· CreationOne Source, Service Guided by God’s Will
“Earth, water, fire, air and ether are the five basic elements that constitute the bodies of all conditioned souls, from Lord Brahmā himself down to the nonmoving creatures. These elements all emanate from the one Personality of Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- All material bodies contain different proportions of the same five elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. These elements emanate from the one Personality of Godhead and cover the living entities.
- A devotee’s good behavior and intelligent discrimination are based on God’s will, not on supposed independent goodness or badness in material objects.
- Devotees accept material variety in the Lord’s service and act for the benefit of all living entities. Lasting social harmony requires acceptance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s authority.
Try this today
Choose one material resource you use today and put it to use in the Lord’s service rather than only for your own enjoyment.
Ask yourself
How would seeing material things as the Lord’s energy change the way I use them?
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.