Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.19.22
Ūti· What drives us to actReligious Dress Does Not Prove Spiritual Qualification
“Then the great hero, Vijitāśva, the son of King Pṛthu, again took the horse and returned to his father’s sacrificial arena. Since that time, certain men with a poor fund of knowledge have adopted the dress of a false sannyāsī. It was King Indra who introduced this.”
What the purport teaches
- Vijitāśva returned the horse to his father’s sacrificial arena. Indra’s false dress later became a model for people with a poor fund of knowledge.
- The purport warns that false sannyāsīs are not bona fide guides to spiritual advancement. Religious dress does not excuse illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating or gambling.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the saṅkīrtana movement to counter such false religion. Taking advantage of this movement protects one from its influence.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today to take part in saṅkīrtana.
Ask yourself
Do I look for genuine spiritual conduct rather than being impressed by religious appearance?
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.