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Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.13.25

Mukti· Liberation

Devotee Shelter Frees Us From Bodily Identity

“After receiving lessons from the great devotee Jaḍa Bharata, King Rahūgaṇa of the state of Sauvīra became completely aware of the constitutional position of the soul. He thus gave up the bodily conception completely. My dear King, whoever takes shelter of the servant of the servant of the Lord is certainly glorified because he can without difficulty give up the bodily conception.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda · Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.13.25, translation

What the purport teaches

  • Through Jaḍa Bharata’s instructions, Rahūgaṇa understood the constitutional position of the soul. He completely gave up identifying the self with the body.
  • Taking shelter of the servant of the servant of the Lord brings spiritual benefit. Even brief association with a pure devotee can lead to all perfection.
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda recalls how his spiritual master’s first instruction placed him on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Devotees are needed everywhere to free people from bodily identification and engage them fully in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Try this today

Choose one instruction from Śrīla Prabhupāda that you have read and take a small step to follow it today.

Ask yourself

How is the guidance of devotees helping me see beyond bodily identity?

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.

One of the 108 chosen lessons, close to this verseUnderstanding Kṛṣṇa Through a Devotee’s MercySB 5.12.12Next · LeadTeach what you are livingTurn this chapter into a timed class plan or a short reel script.Open Lecture Studio