Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.14.40
Ūti· What drives us to actSuccess Means Pleasing the Supreme Lord
“There were many great saintly kings who were very expert in performing sacrificial rituals and very competent in conquering other kingdoms, yet despite their power they could not attain the loving service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is because those great kings could not even conquer the false consciousness of “I am this body, and this is my property.” Thus they simply created enmity with rival kings, fought with them and died without having discharged life’s real mission.”
What the purport teaches
- Even powerful kings failed to attain loving service because they could not overcome the ideas “I am this body” and “This is my property.” Their victories did not fulfill life’s real mission.
- Life’s real mission is to reestablish our forgotten relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service. One can develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness while continuing prescribed duties and associating with devotees.
- Nothing belongs to the conditioned soul, not even the body. Whatever one’s occupation, life becomes successful by using it to satisfy the Supreme Lord.
Try this today
Before one duty today, pause and make a conscious intention to use your effort to please Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Do I measure success by what I gain, or by whether I please Kṛṣṇa?
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.