Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.11.31
Nirodha· Winding upMaterial Progress Cannot Prevent Devastation
“At the beginning of the devastation all the seas overflow, and hurricane winds blow very violently. Thus the waves of the seas become ferocious, and in no time at all the three worlds are full of water.”
What the purport teaches
- The fire from Saṅkarṣaṇa’s mouth rages for 36,000 human years. Another 36,000 years of torrential rain, violent winds and waves follow.
- These 72,000 years mark the beginning of the partial devastation. The overflowing seas fill the three worlds with water.
- People forget these devastations and think themselves happy in the material progress of civilization. This is called māyā, or “that which is not.”
Try this today
Take one minute to reflect on a material comfort you rely on and acknowledge that it cannot last forever.
Ask yourself
Where do I look to material progress for happiness while forgetting its temporary nature?
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.