Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.31.6
Ūti· What drives us to actTake the Miseries of Birth Seriously
“Bitten again and again all over the body by the hungry worms in the abdomen itself, the child suffers terrible agony because of his tenderness. He thus becomes unconscious moment after moment because of the terrible condition.”
What the purport teaches
- The translation describes the tender child suffering terrible agony in the womb. The purport explains that material suffering begins with contact with the material body, not merely after birth.
- We forget these experiences and fail to take the miseries of birth seriously. The purport urges alertness to the difficulties of both birth and death.
- Under the spell of māyā, we become attracted to present, so-called happiness. The purport describes this happiness as no more than a counteraction to distress.
Try this today
Notice one moment of bodily relief today and reflect on the difference between relief and lasting happiness.
Ask yourself
When do I mistake relief from distress for lasting happiness?
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.