Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.25.11
Āśraya· The supreme shelterSurrender Cuts Material Entanglement
“Devahūti continued: I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet because You are the only person of whom to take shelter. You are the ax which can cut the tree of material existence. I therefore offer my obeisances unto You, who are the greatest of all transcendentalists, and I inquire from You as to the relationship between man and woman and between spirit and matter.”
What the purport teaches
- Material entanglement arises when living entities try to enjoy and control material nature. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the actual enjoyer; all living entities are His nature, or prakṛti.
- Devahūti takes shelter of Kapila Muni because He can cut her attachment to material existence. For anyone seeking real relief, the best course is full surrender to the Lord.
- The living entity’s eternal occupation is loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purpose of Kapiladeva’s Sāṅkhya philosophy is pure, uncontaminated devotional service.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to the Lord asking for shelter and help in loosening one material attachment.
Ask yourself
Where am I trying to be the enjoyer rather than a loving servant of the Lord?
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.