Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.8.42
Mukti· LiberationThe Lord’s Mercy Leads to Loving Service
“When the living entity sees that the entire universe has been seized by the serpent of time, he becomes sober and sane and at that time detaches himself from all material sense gratification. In that condition the living entity is qualified to be his own protector.”
What the purport teaches
- By the Lord’s mercy, a self-realized soul sees the entire universe within the jaws of the great serpent of time. Seeing this, one loses the desire for material sense gratification.
- By the Lord’s causeless mercy, the spiritually sane living entity can protect himself from illusion. This protection comes with sober understanding and detachment.
- In her Kṛṣṇa conscious situation, Piṅgalā is already liberated, even while remaining in this world. Her goal is loving service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without personal desire—even the desire for salvation.
Try this today
Today, pause before one act of sense gratification, remember that material things are seized by time, and offer a prayer to Kṛṣṇa for loving service without personal desire.
Ask yourself
How might remembering the power of time help me seek loving service rather than personal 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.