Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.23.12
Mukti· LiberationDevotional Service to Kṛṣṇa Is Life’s Goal
“When he became completely free from the conception of bodily life, Mahārāja Pṛthu realized Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting in everyone’s heart as the Paramātmā. Being thus able to get all instructions from Him, he gave up all other practices of yoga and jñāna. He was not even interested in the perfection of the yoga and jñāna systems, for he thoroughly realized that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate goal of life and that unless the yogīs and jñānīs become attracted to kṛṣṇa-kathā [narrations about Kṛṣṇa], their illusions concerning existence can never be dispelled.”
What the purport teaches
- Free from the bodily conception of life, Mahārāja Pṛthu realized Kṛṣṇa as the Paramātmā in everyone’s heart and received instructions from Him. Understanding Kṛṣṇa as the goal also leads one to help others interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- The perfection of life depends on one’s inclination to hear about Kṛṣṇa. Without attraction to His pastimes and activities, yoga practice and speculative knowledge cannot dispel illusion.
- Real knowledge means understanding that the living entity is the Lord’s eternal servant. Firmly realizing devotional service to Kṛṣṇa as the supreme goal, Pṛthu abandoned other methods of self-realization.
Try this today
Spend five minutes today reading or hearing narrations about Kṛṣṇa, with the intention of deepening your desire to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How much space am I giving to hearing about Kṛṣṇa and developing attraction to Him?
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.