Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.22.39 · one of the 108 chosen verses
Mukti· LiberationReplace Material Desires With Loving Service
“The devotees, who are always engaged in the service of the toes of the lotus feet of the Lord, can very easily overcome hard-knotted desires for fruitive activities. Because this is very difficult, the nondevotees — the jñānīs and yogīs — although trying to stop the waves of sense gratification, cannot do so. Therefore you are advised to engage in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva.”
What the purport teaches
- Desires for material enjoyment are like the incessant waves of a river. Devotees overcome these strong desires through the transcendental bliss of serving the Lord's lotus feet.
- Desire cannot be stopped artificially; inferior desires must be replaced by superior desires. Devotional service uproots desires for fruitive activities by engaging our desire in serving the Supreme.
- Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His lotus feet are the ultimate reservoir of pleasure. Developing loving desire for His service subdues material desires for sense gratification.
Try this today
Write down one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa and carry it out today instead of spending that time on sense gratification.
Ask yourself
Which desire for material enjoyment could I replace with a desire to serve Kṛṣṇa?
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.