Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.10.23
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyEngage in Kṛṣṇa’s Service
“My dear sir, you have said that the relationship between the king and the subject or between the master and the servant are not eternal, but although such relationships are temporary, when a person takes the position of a king his duty is to rule the citizens and punish those who are disobedient to the laws. By punishing them, he teaches the citizens to obey the laws of the state. Again, you have said that punishing a person who is deaf and dumb is like chewing the chewed or grinding the pulp; that is to say, there is no benefit in it. However, if one is engaged in his own occupational duty as ordered by the Supreme Lord, his sinful activities are certainly diminished. Therefore if one is engaged in his occupational duty by force, he benefits because he can vanquish all his sinful activities in that way.”
What the purport teaches
- Every living being is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. Through forgetfulness, one serves māyā instead and cannot be happy in that service.
- Service to Lord Kṛṣṇa frees one from material contamination and sinful activity. Detachment from material activities frees one from fear and anger.
- A ruler’s best service is to help citizens become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Carrying a palanquin for the King’s sense gratification differs from carrying one in the Lord’s service, which is beneficial.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today specifically for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Is my work directed toward sense gratification or toward serving Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
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.