Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.19.12
Ūti· What drives us to actTrue Renunciation Means Serving the Lord
“When King Indra was taking away the horse, he dressed himself to appear as a liberated person. Actually this dress was a form of cheating, for it falsely created an impression of religion. When Indra went into outer space in this way, the great sage Atri saw him and understood the whole situation.”
What the purport teaches
- Indra’s religious dress falsely suggested that he was liberated. The purport calls someone who appears religious while acting sinfully a pākhaṇḍa or pāṣaṇḍa.
- A genuine sannyāsī renounces worldly affairs and engages in the Lord’s service. One who offers the results of work to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is truly a sannyāsī and yogī.
- The order of sannyāsa requires sincerity, seriousness, and advanced spiritual understanding. It should never be adopted for livelihood, material gain, or cheating the public.
Try this today
Choose one duty today and consciously offer its result to the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than seeking praise.
Ask yourself
Am I more concerned with appearing spiritual or sincerely serving the 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.