Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.57
Mukti· LiberationChoose Loving Service Over Sense Gratification
“My dear brāhmaṇa, there are contradictions between your instructions and those of my spiritual teachers who engaged me in fruitive activities. I now can understand the distinction between devotional service, knowledge and renunciation. I had some doubts about them, but you have now very kindly dissipated all these doubts. I can now understand how even the great sages are bewildered by the real purpose of life. Of course, there is no question of sense gratification.”
What the purport teaches
- Nārada’s instructions cleared the King’s doubts about devotional service, knowledge and renunciation. Even learned sages can be bewildered about the real purpose of life.
- People are generally attracted to rituals that promise heavenly enjoyment. Devotional service is different: it is transcendental loving service to the Lord, not sense gratification.
- The purport directs us to follow the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s instruction to surrender unto Him. He promises deliverance from sinful reactions and tells us not to fear.
Try this today
Offer one small act of service to the Lord today without asking for a material reward.
Ask yourself
Am I approaching the Lord for personal enjoyment or to offer loving service?
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.