Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.25.32
Mukti· LiberationSelfless Service Is Greater Than Liberation
“Lord Kapila said: The senses are symbolic representations of the demigods, and their natural inclination is to work under the direction of the Vedic injunctions. As the senses are representatives of the demigods, so the mind is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind’s natural duty is to serve. When that service spirit is engaged in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, without any motive, that is far better even than salvation.”
What the purport teaches
- The senses are naturally active, and the mind leads them. They are in their natural position when their service is directed toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Lord is Hṛṣīkeśa, the proprietor and ultimate master of the senses. Bhakti means engaging the senses in His service without desire for material profit or other selfish motives.
- When the mind is fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness without selfish motive, that service is better than liberation. Devotional service, not merely freedom from material entanglement, is the goal.
Try this today
Before one act of devotional service today, pause and resolve to do it for the Lord rather than for personal reward.
Ask yourself
What reward am I hoping for in my service, and can I serve without asking for it?
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.