Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.23.8
Mukti· LiberationEngage Mind and Senses in Devotion
“By thus practicing severe austerities, Mahārāja Pṛthu gradually became steadfast in spiritual life and completely free of all desires for fruitive activities. He also practiced breathing exercises to control his mind and senses, and by such control he became completely free from all desires for fruitive activity.”
What the purport teaches
- Through his practices, Mahārāja Pṛthu became steadfast in spiritual life and free from desires for fruitive activities. The purpose of prāṇāyāma is to stop the mind and senses from pursuing such activities, not merely to make the body fit.
- Desires to dominate material nature bind one to accept one material body after another. Worshiping Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, frees one from these desires.
- The actual aim is to strengthen the mind and senses for devotional service. In this age, determination for that service can be easily acquired by chanting the Lord’s holy names.
Try this today
Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa today, gently bringing your attention back to the holy names whenever thoughts of personal gain arise.
Ask yourself
Am I using my spiritual practice to seek material results or to engage my mind and senses in Kṛṣṇa’s 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.