Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.3.21
Ūti· What drives us to actReplace Envy With Respect and Devotion
“One who is conducted by false ego and thus always distressed, both mentally and sensually, cannot tolerate the opulence of self-realized persons. Being unable to rise to the standard of self-realization, he envies such persons as much as demons envy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- Dakṣa’s anger arose from long-standing envy of Lord Śiva’s elevated position and contact with the Supersoul. Śiva’s not standing was only the final occasion for that envy to appear.
- Self-realized persons see every body as a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who resides within as Paramātmā. Their respect is directed to His presence, not merely to the body.
- Envy prevents one from honoring self-realized souls and accepting Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa asks us to think of Him, become His devotees and surrender to Him.
Try this today
Spend one quiet minute thinking of Kṛṣṇa and His call to become His devotee.
Ask yourself
When I see someone spiritually advanced, do I respond with respect or comparison?
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.