Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.24.12
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyHonor the Spiritual Master Through Action
“Lord Brahmā said: My dear son Kardama, since you have completely accepted my instructions without duplicity, showing them proper respect, you have worshiped me properly. Whatever instructions you took from me you have carried out, and thereby you have honored me.”
What the purport teaches
- Brahmā praised Kardama Muni for carrying out his instructions completely and without cheating. Such obedience truly honored his spiritual master.
- A conditioned soul commits mistakes, becomes illusioned, tends to cheat and has imperfect senses. Following the spiritual master through disciplic succession helps one overcome these four defects.
- Knowledge received from the bona fide spiritual master is not cheating. To honor the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word.
Try this today
Choose one instruction you have received from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings and take one concrete step to follow it today.
Ask yourself
Does my respect for spiritual instruction show itself in what I actually do?
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.