Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.3.5
Mukti· LiberationSelf-Control Is Meant for Spiritual Liberation
“After conquering all the land on my surface, these proud kings forcibly enter the ocean to conquer the sea itself. What is the use of their self-control, which is aimed at political exploitation? The actual goal of self-control is spiritual liberation.”
What the purport teaches
- After conquering the land, proud kings enter the ocean by force to conquer the sea itself.
- The earth questions the value of self-control aimed at political exploitation.
- The actual goal of self-control is spiritual liberation, not expanding one’s rule.
Try this today
Before one act of self-restraint today, consciously direct its purpose toward spiritual liberation rather than control over others.
Ask yourself
What purpose does my practice of self-control serve?
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.