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Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.22.35

Mukti· Liberation

Real Liberation Is Devotional Service

“Out of the four principles — namely religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation — liberation has to be taken very seriously. The other three are subject to destruction by the stringent law of nature — death.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda · Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.35, translation

What the purport teaches

  • Liberation must be taken very seriously, even at the sacrifice of religion, economic development and sense gratification. Death takes away the material gains accumulated through these other pursuits.
  • Liberation means not accepting another material body after leaving this one. Even elevation to heavenly planets does not free us from birth, death, old age and disease.
  • Real liberation is taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engaging in His devotional service. Our concern should be approaching Lord Viṣṇu’s spiritual planets, the highest of which is Goloka Vṛndāvana, where Lord Kṛṣṇa lives.

Try this today

Set aside a few minutes today to pray for shelter and service to Lord Kṛṣṇa rather than for material gain.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking temporary gains from spiritual life, or shelter in the Lord’s devotional service?

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.

One of the 108 chosen lessons, close to this verseReplace Material Desires With Loving ServiceSB 4.22.39Next · LeadTeach what you are livingTurn this chapter into a timed class plan or a short reel script.Open Lecture Studio