Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.8.32
Ūti· What drives us to actAbandoning Devotional Service Brings Suffering
“Oh, how I have uselessly tortured my own soul! I have sold my body to lusty, greedy men who are themselves objects of pity. Thus practicing the most abominable profession of a prostitute, I hoped to get money and sex pleasure.”
What the purport teaches
- Piṅgalā sees that her pursuit of money and sexual pleasure has uselessly tortured her soul.
- She had hoped for loving affairs with customers whose motives were lusty and greedy. She now recognizes that they themselves are objects of pity.
- The purport teaches that giving up devotional service to the Lord makes one a victim of the illusory energy and brings great suffering.
Try this today
Set aside one pursuit of sense pleasure today and use that time to serve the Lord.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking happiness in something that draws me away from devotional service?
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.