Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.25.39
Ūti· What drives us to actDistinguish Enjoyment From Spiritual Advancement
“The woman continued: In this material world, a householder’s life brings all kinds of happiness in religion, economic development, sense gratification and the begetting of children, sons and grandsons. After that, one may desire liberation as well as material reputation. The householder can appreciate the results of sacrifices, which enable him to gain promotion to superior planetary systems. All this material happiness is practically unknown to the transcendentalists. They cannot even imagine such happiness.”
What the purport teaches
- Pravṛtti-mārga permits sense enjoyment under Vedic directions, while nivṛtti-mārga is the path of spiritual advancement. Religious life is the basis of both paths.
- The woman praises pravṛtti-mārga and discourages nivṛtti-mārga. She emphasizes family happiness, material prosperity and promotion to heavenly planets.
- A gṛhastha follows Vedic instructions, whereas a gṛhamedhī is interested only in sense gratification. Excessive attachment to sex makes one neglect transcendental spiritual life.
Try this today
Examine one goal today and write whether it chiefly serves sense enjoyment or spiritual advancement.
Ask yourself
Do I seek religious life mainly for material happiness or for spiritual advancement?
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.