Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.16.20-21
Sthāna· The universe in orderSeek Devotional Service, Not Golden Opulence
“The mud on both banks of the river Jambū-nadī, being moistened by the flowing juice and then dried by the air and the sunshine, produces huge quantities of gold called Jāmbū-nada. The denizens of heaven use this gold for various kinds of ornaments. Therefore all the inhabitants of the heavenly planets and their youthful wives are fully decorated with golden helmets, bangles and belts, and thus they enjoy life.”
What the purport teaches
- By the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mud on the banks of Jambū-nadī produces abundant Jāmbū-nada gold. The mud is moistened by fruit juice and dried by air and sunshine.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against accepting someone as God merely because he produces a little gold. Such attraction reveals an incomplete understanding of the Lord’s opulence.
- Pure devotees are not attracted by heavenly wealth, beauty or followers. Following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s prayer, they seek only unmotivated devotional service and shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.
Try this today
Offer this brief prayer today: “My Lord, please bless me with Your devotional service and keep me under the shelter of Your lotus feet.”
Ask yourself
When you pray, are you seeking material advantages or the opportunity to serve the Lord?
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.