Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.27.17
Nirodha· Winding upDo Not Postpone Spiritual Discipline
“Because he had to fight alone with so many soldiers, all of whom were great warriors, the serpent with five hoods became very weak. Seeing that his most intimate friend was weakening, King Purañjana and his friends and citizens living within the city all became very anxious.”
What the purport teaches
- The body's limbs are described as the living entity's citizens and friends. As the protecting serpent weakens, Purañjana and those within the city become anxious.
- The struggle to maintain the body cannot continue indefinitely. In old age, the ability to enjoy material happiness slips away.
- Meditation is a difficult discipline that should be learned from youth and requires restraint from sense gratification. It is not merely a relaxation technique to adopt after a lifetime of sensual indulgence.
Try this today
Choose one unnecessary sense indulgence to refrain from today as a small exercise in restraint.
Ask yourself
Am I postponing spiritual discipline while expecting it to become easy later?
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.