Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.2.3
Ūti· What drives us to actRestore the Spiritual Purpose of Relationships
“Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brāhmaṇa just by his wearing a thread.”
What the purport teaches
- Human life has the serious purpose of spiritual liberation, and marriage and child-rearing should support that purpose. In Kali-yuga, superficial attraction replaces this deeper aim.
- The soul gives apparent life to the body; consciousness is the soul’s manifest energy. Regulated spiritual marriage allows family life to please the Lord, who purifies material desire.
- Deceit becomes a means of business success, while sexual appeal becomes a measure of personal worth. A sacred thread or ceremonial dress alone may establish someone as a religious leader, despite ignorance of God.
Try this today
Write down one way your family responsibilities can help you please the Lord, and act on it today.
Ask yourself
How can my relationships support spiritual growth rather than remain centered on outward attraction?
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.