Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.13.12
Ūti· What drives us to actUnsatisfied Desires Undermine Peace
“On the forest path of material existence, sometimes a person is without wealth and due to this does not have a proper home, bed or sitting place, nor proper family enjoyment. He therefore goes to beg money from others, but when his desires are not fulfilled by begging, he wants to borrow or steal the property of others. Thus he is insulted in society.”
What the purport teaches
- Without wealth, a person may lack a proper home, bed and sitting place. Unfulfilled desires can turn attention toward another person’s property.
- The purport describes a progression from begging to borrowing and then stealing. Being caught brings insult and dishonor.
- Attempts to satisfy the senses through trickery, cheating, begging, borrowing or stealing leave people without peace. Material desire keeps this struggle going.
Try this today
Identify one nonessential desire and choose not to borrow money or deceive anyone to fulfill it today.
Ask yourself
Is an unfulfilled desire tempting me to seek something dishonestly?
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.