Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.32.12-15
Ūti· What drives us to actGive Up Claims of Independence
“My dear mother, someone may worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead with a special self-interest, but even demigods such as Lord Brahmā, great sages such as Sanat-kumāra and great munis such as Marīci have to come back to the material world again at the time of creation. When the interaction of the three modes of material nature begins, Brahmā, who is the creator of this cosmic manifestation and who is full of Vedic knowledge, and the great sages, who are the authors of the spiritual path and the yoga system, come back under the influence of the time factor. They are liberated by their nonfruitive activities and attain the first incarnation of the puruṣa, but at the time of creation they come back in exactly the same forms and positions they previously had.”
What the purport teaches
- Even Brahmā and great sages return at creation when they retain a separate interest or a sense of independence from the Supreme Lord.
- Mystic perfection does not make anyone equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thinking oneself equal to Him shows that purification and knowledge are incomplete.
- Only surrender to Kṛṣṇa frees one from māyā. Transcendental loving service preserves distinct relationships with Him as master, friend, son or lover.
Try this today
Before one task today, pause and acknowledge your dependence on Kṛṣṇa rather than claiming complete independence.
Ask yourself
Where do I act as though I were independent of the Supreme 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.