Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.23.10
Ūti· What drives us to actPiety Toward the Supreme Lord Endures
“O magnanimous Uddhava, by his neglect of these demigods he depleted his stock of piety and all his wealth. The accumulation of his repeated exhaustive endeavors was totally lost.”
What the purport teaches
- By neglecting the demigods, the brāhmaṇa depleted his stock of piety and lost all his wealth. His repeated, exhausting efforts ended in loss.
- His piety became like a withered branch that could no longer produce flowers or fruits.
- A trace of piety directed toward the Supreme Lord, with hopes of liberation, remained unwithered. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that this pure portion eventually bore the fruit of knowledge.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today to read this teaching attentively, directing that effort toward the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
How much of my effort is directed toward the Supreme Lord rather than merely accumulating wealth?
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.