Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.13.8-9
Mukti· LiberationDevotional Service Purifies and Increases Spiritual Bliss
“By expansion of his knowledge of the Supreme Brahman, he had already attained liberation from the bondage of the body. This liberation is known as nirvāṇa. He was situated in transcendental bliss, and he continued always in that blissful existence, which expanded more and more. This was possible for him by continual practice of bhakti-yoga, which is compared to fire because it burns away all dirty, material things. He was always situated in his constitutional position of self-realization, and he could not see anything else but the Supreme Lord and himself engaged in discharging devotional service.”
What the purport teaches
- Through continual bhakti-yoga, Utkala was liberated from bodily bondage and experienced ever-increasing spiritual bliss. He saw himself engaged in devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
- Bhakti-yoga is the topmost yoga system, and chanting the Lord’s holy name is its foremost devotional practice. Chanting brings liberation from material existence and increases spiritual bliss.
- Advancement in devotional service brings detachment from material enjoyment through a higher spiritual taste. Like fire, devotional service burns away material desires and the reactions of past actions.
Try this today
Spend five minutes chanting the Lord’s holy name with attention today.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking the higher happiness of devotional service rather than only trying to suppress material desires?
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.