Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.6.9
Ūti· What drives us to actFollow Vedic Principles, Not Imitation
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued speaking to Mahārāja Parīkṣit: My dear King, the King of Koṅka, Veṅka and Kuṭaka whose name was Arhat, heard of the activities of Ṛṣabhadeva and, imitating Ṛṣabhadeva’s principles, introduced a new system of religion. Taking advantage of Kali-yuga, the age of sinful activity, King Arhat, being bewildered, gave up the Vedic principles, which are free from risk, and concocted a new system of religion opposed to the Vedas. That was the beginning of the Jain dharma. Many other so-called religions followed this atheistic system.”
What the purport teaches
- King Arhat imitated Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s activities but abandoned the Vedic path. He introduced a religious system opposed to Vedic principles.
- The purport warns that people lacking spiritual culture may accept anyone as the Supreme Lord or accept religion opposed to the Vedas.
- Pauṇḍraka tried to compete with Kṛṣṇa by claiming to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such imitation does not make someone the Supreme Lord.
Try this today
Review one spiritual teaching you follow and consider whether it respects Vedic principles rather than someone’s claim to be the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking genuine spiritual understanding, or am I drawn mainly to impressive appearances?
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.