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Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.25.52

Ūti· What drives us to act

Sense Gratification Clouds Spiritual Life

“On the western side was a gate named Āsurī. Through that gate King Purañjana used to go to the city of Grāmaka, accompanied by his friend Durmada.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda · Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.25.52, translation

What the purport teaches

  • The gate Āsurī represents the genitals, and Grāmaka represents a place of extensive sexual enjoyment. The purport describes excessive attraction to such enjoyment as an asuric, or materialistic, tendency.
  • Durmada means sinful madness. His companionship illustrates how the living entity becomes affected by the material disease of sense gratification.
  • Lord Caitanya wanted Kṛṣṇa consciousness preached so that people addicted to sense gratification could benefit from His teachings. The purport thus points toward spiritual life rather than increasing bodily enjoyment.

Try this today

Set aside one unnecessary sense pleasure today and use that time to read the teachings of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Ask yourself

Where does the pursuit of sense gratification draw my attention away from spiritual life?

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.

One of the 108 chosen lessons, close to this verseReplace Material Desires With Loving ServiceSB 4.22.39Next · LeadTeach what you are livingTurn this chapter into a timed class plan or a short reel script.Open Lecture Studio