Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.14.2
Ūti· What drives us to actEngage Your Senses in Kṛṣṇa’s Service
“In the forest of material existence, the uncontrolled senses are like plunderers. The conditioned soul may earn some money for the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but unfortunately the uncontrolled senses plunder his money through sense gratification. The senses are plunderers because they make one spend his money unnecessarily for seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, desiring and willing. In this way the conditioned soul is obliged to gratify his senses, and thus all his money is spent. This money is actually acquired for the execution of religious principles, but it is taken away by the plundering senses.”
What the purport teaches
- Wealth, learning, beauty and high birth are meant for the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Uncontrolled senses act like plunderers when these assets are wasted on sense gratification.
- One should practice a little austerity and use money for the regulated life of devotional service. In this way, favorable circumstances need not be spoiled.
- The senses can be engaged in serving the Deity and hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Rather than satisfying every demand, one can regulate the senses to advance Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes listening attentively to the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today.
Ask yourself
Which demand of my senses most often draws my resources away from devotional service?
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.