Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.7.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSpiritual Standing Requires Knowledge and Devotional Service
“Thereafter, at the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher castes, and when the power of government is transferred to the hands of ministers elected from the lowborn śūdra class or those less than them, and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser.”
What the purport teaches
- The central symptom of the worst conditions at the end of Kali-yuga is godlessness. Even supposed saints and respected social leaders forget the Lord's holy name and activities.
- Spiritual standing is judged by knowledge of the Supreme Lord, not birthright or bodily designation. Titles without knowledge of God and practical devotional service are compared to decorations on dead bodies.
- Leaders should reform society through training in God consciousness and the worldwide culture of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In the deeply degraded condition described, the Lord appears as Kalki, the supreme chastiser.
Try this today
Read this passage with someone today, or share one of its teachings about knowledge of God and devotional service.
Ask yourself
How can you give more importance to knowledge of the Lord and practical service than to social titles?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.