Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.14.29
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFollow Śiva’s Detachment, Not Extraordinary Acts
“Demigods like Brahmā also follow the religious rites observed by him. He is the controller of the material energy, which causes the creation of the material world. He is great, and therefore his devilish characteristics are simply imitation.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva is the husband of Durgā, the personified material energy, and is its controller. Demigods such as Brahmā follow the religious rites he observes.
- He represents the Supreme Lord as the incarnation of the mode of ignorance. The purport describes him as identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in his role as His representative.
- Śiva’s renunciation of material enjoyment is an ideal example to follow. We should learn material detachment from him, not imitate uncommon acts such as drinking poison.
Try this today
Forgo one unnecessary purchase or indulgence today as a small step toward material detachment.
Ask yourself
Am I following the principle of detachment, or being attracted to extraordinary outward acts?
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.