Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.55
Mukti· LiberationTake Shelter and Gradually Become Detached
“My dear King, just try to understand the allegorical position of the deer. Be fully conscious of yourself, and give up the pleasure of hearing about promotion to heavenly planets by fruitive activity. Give up household life, which is full of sex, as well as stories about such things, and take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the mercy of the liberated souls. In this way, please give up your attraction for material existence.”
What the purport teaches
- Fruitive activities and mental speculation cannot give real happiness. Nārada urges the King to give up attraction to heavenly pleasures and household life centered on sense enjoyment.
- A bona fide spiritual master has understood the scriptures and taken complete shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through his training and instruction, one gradually becomes detached from worldly life.
- Association with saintly persons is the real necessity. Material comforts may be accepted without attachment when used in relation to Kṛṣṇa to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to carefully read an instruction of a bona fide spiritual master about becoming detached.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking spiritual guidance for material enjoyment or for freedom from material attachment?
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.