Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.12.4
Visarga· Brahmā's creationSpiritual Advancement Needs Devotional Service
“In the beginning, Brahmā created four great sages named Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra. All of them were unwilling to adopt materialistic activities because they were highly elevated due to their semen’s flowing upwards.”
What the purport teaches
- Brahmā created Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra, who were unwilling to adopt materialistic activities.
- He entrusted the sages with four principles of spiritual advancement: sāṅkhya, yoga, vairāgya and tapas. These concern analytical study, liberation from bondage, detachment and voluntary austerity.
- Their spiritual tradition advanced bhakti, and all these sages became great devotees. Without devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, no activity of spiritual value can succeed.
Try this today
Set aside one small material enjoyment today and use that time for devotional service to the Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
Is my spiritual effort directed toward devotional service, rather than achievement alone?
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.