Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.19.23
Mukti· LiberationUse This Short Life to Surrender
“A short life in the land of Bharata-varṣa is preferable to a life achieved in Brahmaloka for millions and billions of years because even if one is elevated to Brahmaloka, he must return to repeated birth and death. Although life in Bhārata-varṣa, in a lower planetary system, is very short, one who lives there can elevate himself to full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and achieve the highest perfection, even in this short life, by fully surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Thus one attains Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where there is neither anxiety nor repeated birth in a material body.”
What the purport teaches
- A short life in Bhārata-varṣa is preferable to an immensely long life in Brahmaloka. Full Kṛṣṇa consciousness leads beyond repeated birth and death to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where there is no anxiety.
- One has the opportunity to study Kṛṣṇa’s direct instructions in Bhagavad-gītā and surrender to Him. Kṛṣṇa then takes charge and relieves one of the results of past sinful life.
- Kṛṣṇa asks us to think of Him, become His devotees, worship Him and offer Him obeisances. Following His instructions and engaging in His service makes one eligible to return to Him, beyond the results of good and bad karma.
Try this today
Offer obeisances to Kṛṣṇa and spend a quiet minute thinking of Him, following His instruction given here.
Ask yourself
How can I use the time I have today to follow Kṛṣṇa’s instructions more faithfully?
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.