Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.24.42
Mukti· LiberationUse Silence and Speech for the Lord
“The sage Kardama accepted silence as a vow in order to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and take shelter of Him exclusively. Without association, he traveled over the surface of the globe as a sannyāsī, devoid of any relationship with fire or shelter.”
What the purport teaches
- As a sannyāsī, Kardama Muni traveled without his own lodging or responsibilities for cooking and fire sacrifices. He depended completely on the Supreme Lord.
- His vow of silence was meant to free him from nonsensical talk so that he could think about the Lord's pastimes and activities.
- True mauna includes using speech to glorify the Lord rather than speaking nonsense. Chanting and hearing about Him lead toward perfection.
Try this today
Replace one unnecessary conversation today with a few minutes of chanting or hearing about the Lord.
Ask yourself
Does my speech help me remember the Lord, or does it distract me?
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.