Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.8.30
Mukti· LiberationSincerity Makes Devotional Service Easy
“Now you have decided to undertake the mystic process of meditation under the instruction of your mother, just to achieve the mercy of the Lord, but in my opinion such austerities are not possible for any ordinary man. It is very difficult to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- Nārada warned Dhruva that the austerities he intended to undertake were difficult for an ordinary person. In doing so, he was testing Dhruva’s determination.
- Nārada had come under the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s direction to initiate Dhruva. Testing determination is part of accepting a disciple.
- Bhakti-yoga is simultaneously very difficult and very easy. Devotional service is easy for a sincere person but difficult for one who lacks sincerity and determination.
Try this today
Choose one small act of devotional service today and complete it sincerely, even if you feel reluctant.
Ask yourself
How steady is my determination to serve when the process seems difficult?
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.