Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.19.25
Mukti· LiberationUse Human Freedom for Devotional Service
“Bhārata-varṣa offers the proper land and circumstances in which to execute devotional service, which can free one from the results of jñāna and karma. If one obtains a human body in the land of Bhārata-varṣa, with clear sensory organs with which to execute the saṅkīrtana-yajña, but in spite of this opportunity he does not take to devotional service, he is certainly like liberated forest animals and birds that are careless and are therefore again bound by a hunter.”
What the purport teaches
- Bhārata-varṣa offers facilities for hearing, chanting, and other methods of devotional service. Its holy places offer association with pure devotees who desire only to serve the Lord.
- Heavenly enjoyment and merging into Brahman are not lasting achievements. One should endeavor to go back home, back to Godhead through devotional service.
- Neglecting this human opportunity is like a free bird becoming trapped again. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises those born in Bhārata-varṣa to realize themselves as parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa and distribute this knowledge throughout the world.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to hear about Kṛṣṇa rather than postponing devotional service.
Ask yourself
Which opportunity for devotional service am I taking for granted?
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.