Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.35
Ūti· What drives us to actReal Independence Means Serving Kṛṣṇa
“Because of my state of complete foolishness and paucity of pious activities, although the Lord offered me His personal service, I wanted material name, fame and prosperity. My case is just like that of the poor man who, when he satisfied a great emperor who wanted to give him anything he might ask, out of ignorance asked only a few broken grains of husked rice.”
What the purport teaches
- Real independence means being situated in our original position as servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It comes through surrender to Kṛṣṇa, not through struggling for material control.
- The living entity’s freedom rests in dependence on the Lord, like a child freely playing under parental care. Trying to become independent in the material world cannot bring happiness.
- Dhruva compared asking for prosperity to begging a great emperor for a few broken grains of rice. Pure devotees ask only for the privilege of serving the Lord.
Try this today
Pray today for the privilege of serving Kṛṣṇa rather than for greater prosperity.
Ask yourself
Where am I mistaking material control for real independence?
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.