Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.8.44
Mukti· LiberationFreedom From Material Desire Brings Happiness
“Material desire is undoubtedly the cause of the greatest unhappiness, and freedom from such desire is the cause of the greatest happiness. Therefore, completely cutting off her desire to enjoy so-called lovers, Piṅgalā very happily went to sleep.”
What the purport teaches
- Material desire is the cause of the greatest unhappiness. The verse directs attention to desire itself as the source of suffering.
- Freedom from material desire is the cause of the greatest happiness. Happiness comes from giving up such desire, rather than fulfilling it.
- Piṅgalā completely cut off her desire to enjoy so-called lovers. Freed from that longing, she very happily went to sleep.
Try this today
Before sleeping tonight, identify one material longing that has troubled you and consciously set aside the wish to fulfill it.
Ask yourself
Am I expecting happiness from fulfilling a material desire, or can I consider the happiness of letting it go?
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.