Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.14.4
Ūti· What drives us to actBurn Desire’s Seeds Through Devotional Service
“Every year the plowman plows over his grain field, completely uprooting all weeds. Nonetheless, the seeds lie there and, not being completely burned, again come up with the plants sown in the field. Even after being plowed under, the weeds come up densely. Similarly, the gṛhastha-āśrama [family life] is a field of fruitive activity. Unless the desire to enjoy family life is completely burned out, it grows up again and again. Even though camphor may be removed from a pot, the pot nonetheless retains the aroma of camphor. As long as the seeds of desire are not destroyed, fruitive activities are not destroyed.”
What the purport teaches
- Weeds return after plowing because their seeds remain unburned. Similarly, activities aimed at material enjoyment continue while the seeds of desire remain.
- Even taking sannyāsa does not remove the desire for family enjoyment if one’s desires have not changed. An outward change alone cannot destroy these strong desires.
- Desires must be completely transferred to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Full engagement in devotional service can burn out the desire for material enjoyment.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today for devotional service instead of one habitual pursuit of personal enjoyment.
Ask yourself
Which recurring desire needs to be redirected toward the Lord’s service rather than merely suppressed?
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.