Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.14.41
Ūti· What drives us to actSeek Guidance Beyond Material Rewards
“When the conditioned soul accepts the shelter of the creeper of fruitive activity, he may be elevated by his pious activities to higher planetary systems and thus gain liberation from hellish conditions, but unfortunately he cannot remain there. After reaping the results of his pious activities, he has to return to the lower planetary systems. In this way he perpetually goes up and comes down.”
What the purport teaches
- Pious activities can raise one to heavenly planets, but that stay is temporary. When the results are exhausted, one returns to lower planetary systems.
- Activities performed for material rewards keep the conditioned soul moving up and down within material existence. Freedom requires shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.
- By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, a person receives guidance from a bona fide spiritual master in devotional service. One should approach such a teacher with submissive inquiry and service.
Try this today
Write down one sincere question about devotional service to ask a bona fide spiritual master.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking temporary improvements, or guidance toward freedom through 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.