Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.25.31
Ūti· What drives us to actAttraction Can Cover Real Knowledge
“My dear girl, your face is so beautiful with your nice eyebrows and eyes and with your bluish hair scattered about. In addition, very sweet sounds are coming from your mouth. Nonetheless, you are so covered with shyness that you do not see me face to face. I therefore request you, my dear girl, to smile and kindly raise your head to see me.”
What the purport teaches
- Purañjana’s speech shows the bewilderment of a living entity attracted by material nature. Attraction to beauty makes one eager to enjoy.
- In conditioned life, a face, eyes or voice can become deeply attractive. The lover sees everything as beautiful in the beloved.
- This condition is called avidyā, or ignorance, which keeps one conditioned. Vidyā, or real knowledge, brings liberation.
Try this today
Pause before following one attraction today and consider whether it strengthens ignorance or real knowledge.
Ask yourself
When does attraction make it difficult for me to see clearly?
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.