Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.29.41-44
Mukti· LiberationLive by the Lord’s Instructions
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, take My order and go to My āśrama called Badarikā. Purify yourself by both touching and also bathing in the holy waters there, which have emanated from My lotus feet. Rid yourself of all sinful reactions with the sight of the sacred Alakanandā River. Dress yourself in bark and eat whatever is naturally available in the forest. Thus you should remain content and free from desire, tolerant of all dualities, good-natured, self-controlled, peaceful and endowed with transcendental knowledge and realization. With fixed attention, meditate constantly upon these instructions I have imparted to you and assimilate their essence. Fix your words and thoughts upon Me, and always endeavor to increase your realization of My transcendental qualities. In this way you will cross beyond the destinations of the three modes of nature and finally come back to Me.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead orders Uddhava to go to His āśrama at Badarikā. He directs him to purify himself in the holy waters and by seeing the sacred Alakanandā River.
- The Lord instructs Uddhava to live simply, content and free from desire. He is to remain tolerant of dualities, good-natured, self-controlled and peaceful, with transcendental knowledge and realization.
- Uddhava is to meditate constantly on the Lord’s instructions, assimilate their essence and fix his words and thoughts upon Him. By increasing realization of the Lord’s transcendental qualities, he will pass beyond the three modes of nature and return to Him.
Try this today
Spend five minutes reflecting on one instruction in this passage, keeping your thoughts on the Lord and how to follow His words.
Ask yourself
Which instruction here can I give more attentive expression to today?
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.