Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.25.14
Ūti· What drives us to actSeek Shelter Beyond Material Desires
“My dear King, as I heard of it from my spiritual master, I have fully described to you the creation of this material world according to the fruitive activities and desires of the conditioned souls. Those conditioned souls, who are full of material desires, achieve various situations in different planetary systems, and in this way they live within this material creation.”
What the purport teaches
- The material creation is described as heard from the spiritual master. Conditioned souls attain different situations in different planetary systems according to their fruitive activities and desires.
- Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura describes material life as a deep ocean of nescience. He sees no way out except taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu prays as the Lord’s eternal servant, fallen into the ocean of nescience. He asks the Lord to save him from materialistic life.
Try this today
Offer a short prayer asking the Lord for shelter and help in living as His servant.
Ask yourself
Which material desire can I recognize today as a reason to seek the Lord’s shelter?
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.