Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.26.37
Ūti· What drives us to actDevotion Goes Beyond Heaven and Hell
“My dear King Parīkṣit, in the province of Yamarāja there are hundreds and thousands of hellish planets. The impious people I have mentioned — and also those I have not mentioned — must all enter these various planets according to the degree of their impiety. Those who are pious, however, enter other planetary systems, namely the planets of the demigods. Nevertheless, both the pious and impious are again brought to earth after the results of their pious or impious acts are exhausted.”
What the purport teaches
- Pious people reach heavenly planets, while impious people enter hellish planets according to their actions. Both return to earth when the results of those actions are exhausted.
- Moving from one planet to another does not solve the repetition of birth and death. Knowing the transcendental nature of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance and activities allows one to attain His eternal abode.
- The goal is to become a devotee and surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By chanting His names, worshiping Him and offering obeisances, one can engage life’s activities in His service.
Try this today
Chant attentively today: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking temporary rewards, or learning to devote my life to Kṛṣṇa?
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.