Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.14.28
Ūti· What drives us to actDo Not Let Attachment Eclipse Kṛṣṇa
“Sometimes the conditioned soul is attracted by illusion personified (his wife or girlfriend) and becomes eager to be embraced by a woman. Thus he loses his intelligence as well as knowledge of life’s goal. At that time, no longer attempting spiritual cultivation, he becomes overly attached to his wife or girlfriend and tries to provide her with a suitable apartment. Again, he becomes very busy under the shelter of that home and is captivated by the talks, glances and activities of his wife and children. In this way he loses his Kṛṣṇa consciousness and throws himself in the dense darkness of material existence.”
What the purport teaches
- Overwhelming attraction to a wife or girlfriend can make the conditioned soul forget life’s goal and neglect spiritual cultivation. Absorption in home and family can eclipse Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- The purport explains that attraction between man and woman binds both when each seeks to enjoy the other. Both belong to the Lord’s superior energy, parā prakṛti.
- Their attachment extends to home, land, friendship, money and children. In this way, the desire for mutual enjoyment entangles them further in material existence.
Try this today
Reserve five minutes today for cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than letting household concerns occupy the whole day.
Ask yourself
Is attachment to home or romantic enjoyment causing me to neglect Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
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.