Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.1.13
Sthāna· The universe in orderSurrender Rather Than Pursue Material Desires
“My dear Priyavrata, by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all living entities accept different types of bodies for birth and death, activity, lamentation, illusion, fear of future dangers, and happiness and distress.”
What the purport teaches
- Material nature gives each living entity a body according to his desires and karma, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Lord sits in everyone’s heart and gives each living entity a chance to fulfill his desires. Freedom to act also brings responsibility for the reactions of those actions.
- The best course is to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and act according to His desire. One who does so is liberated.
Try this today
Before one decision today, pause and consider whether it follows the Lord’s instructions or merely serves a material desire.
Ask yourself
Am I choosing my actions mainly for material enjoyment or to follow the Lord’s desire?
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.