Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.17
Ūti· What drives us to actContaminated Intelligence Directs Conditioned Action
“Formerly it was explained that the Queen is one’s intelligence. While one is awake or asleep, that intelligence creates different situations. Being influenced by contaminated intelligence, the living entity envisions something and simply imitates the actions and reactions of his intelligence.”
What the purport teaches
- Purañjana’s queen represents intelligence. Intelligence acts both while one is awake and while one is dreaming.
- In material existence, intelligence is contaminated by the three modes of material nature. The conditioned living entity acts according to that contaminated intelligence.
- Although the living entity remains an observer, he follows the actions and reactions of intelligence. He is forced to act by its influence.
Try this today
Before acting on one impulse today, pause and identify the thought or imagined situation behind it.
Ask yourself
Do I notice how the situations envisioned by my intelligence influence my actions?
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.