Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.25.35
Ūti· What drives us to actThe Vital Force Remains Awake
“My dear gentleman, all these men and women with me are known as my friends, and the snake, who always remains awake, protects this city even during my sleeping hours. So much I know. I do not know anything beyond this.”
What the purport teaches
- The snake represents the living being’s vital force. It remains awake even when the body and senses are tired and inactive.
- Breathing shows that the vital force continues to protect the sleeping body. The body may rest, but the life force remains active.
- When the soul leaves one material body, the vital force accompanies it to another. What we call death is thus a change of body.
Try this today
Notice your breathing for a moment today and reflect that the vital force remains active even during sleep.
Ask yourself
How does the teaching of a change of body affect my understanding of death?
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.