Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.8.11
Mukti· LiberationCollect for Service, Not for Greed
“A saintly person should not think, “This food I will keep to eat tonight and this other food I can save for tomorrow.” In other words, a saintly person should not store foodstuffs acquired by begging. Rather, he should use his own hands as his plate and eat whatever fits on them. His only storage container should be his belly, and whatever conveniently fits into his belly should be his stock of food. Thus one should not imitate the greedy honeybee who eagerly collects more and more honey.”
What the purport teaches
- Like a honeybee trapped by its own honey, a materialistic person becomes burdened by unnecessary accumulation. A saintly mendicant should accept only what is needed.
- Resources may be gathered to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is yukta-vairāgya: using everything in Kṛṣṇa’s service.
- Facilities collected for Kṛṣṇa must not become objects of personal enjoyment. One should collect only what one can immediately engage in practical devotional service.
Try this today
Choose one resource you already have and put it to practical use in Kṛṣṇa’s service today.
Ask yourself
Am I gathering resources for practical service, or simply because I want more?
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.