Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.5.8
Ūti· What drives us to actKeep the Lord Central in Family Life
“The materialistic followers of Vedic rituals, giving up the worship of the Lord, instead practically worship their wives, and thus their homes become dedicated to sex life. Such materialistic householders encourage one another in such whimsical behavior. Understanding ritualistic sacrifice as a necessary item for bodily maintenance, they perform unauthorized ceremonies in which there is no distribution of foodstuffs or charity to the brāhmaṇas and other respectable persons. Instead, they cruelly slaughter animals such as goats without any understanding of the dark consequences of their activities.”
What the purport teaches
- Materialistic householders neglect worship of the Lord and encourage one another in temporary sense pleasure. They prefer discussing their families to hearing about the Lord’s pastimes.
- Religious ceremonies performed only for livelihood or family prestige do not excuse neglect of the Lord and His devotees. The verse describes unauthorized ceremonies lacking charity and involving cruel animal slaughter.
- The Lord’s devotees remain ready to act mercifully toward such conditioned souls. Their mercy offers hope to those uninterested in devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to hear or discuss the Lord’s pastimes rather than only family affairs.
Ask yourself
Do my household conversations encourage service to the Lord or only temporary enjoyment?
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.