Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.32.34-36
Mukti· LiberationMake Devotion Central to Every Activity
“By performing fruitive activities and sacrifices, by distributing charity, by performing austerities, by studying various literatures, by conducting philosophical research, by controlling the mind, by subduing the senses, by accepting the renounced order of life, by performing the prescribed duties of one’s social order, by performing the different divisions of yoga practice, by performing devotional service, by exhibiting the process of devotional service containing the symptoms of both attachment and detachment, by understanding the science of self-realization, and by developing a strong sense of detachment, one who is expert in understanding the different processes of self-realization realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is represented in the material world as well as in transcendence.”
What the purport teaches
- Different duties are prescribed for different social and spiritual orders. Their purpose is to elevate people to self-realization and then to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service.
- Sacrifice, charity, study, austerity and other prescribed activities must be performed with devotional service for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When bhakti-yoga is prominent in every activity, the ultimate goal is sure.
- Devotional service develops attachment to the Supreme Lord and detachment from material affinities. Understanding oneself as His eternal servant leads one to engage in His service.
Try this today
Choose one duty today and consciously offer its result to Kṛṣṇa rather than keeping it only for your own satisfaction.
Ask yourself
Am I performing my duties mainly for personal results, or for 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.