Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.7.6
Āśraya· The supreme shelterAct for Kṛṣṇa’s Satisfaction
“After performing the preliminaries of various sacrifices, Mahārāja Bharata offered the results in the name of religion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. In other words, he performed all the yajñas for the satisfaction of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. Mahārāja Bharata thought that since the demigods were different parts of Vāsudeva’s body, He controls those who are explained in the Vedic mantras. By thinking in this way, Mahārāja Bharata was freed from all material contamination, such as attachment, lust and greed. When the priests were about to offer the sacrificial ingredients into the fire, Mahārāja Bharata expertly understood how the offering made to different demigods was simply an offering to the different limbs of the Lord. For instance, Indra is the arm of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Sūrya [the sun] is His eye. Thus Mahārāja Bharata considered that the oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto the different limbs of Lord Vāsudeva.”
What the purport teaches
- Bharata Mahārāja performed sacrifices simply to follow Vāsudeva’s orders and please Him. Whatever we do, we should constantly remember Vāsudeva.
- The demigods are parts of the Supreme Lord’s body. Serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead satisfies them, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes its branches, fruits and flowers.
- Work for personal satisfaction brings bondage, but work for Kṛṣṇa does not. Pure devotees act for the Lord’s pleasure, so the results of their service are spiritual and permanent.
Try this today
Before beginning one task, pause to remember Kṛṣṇa and dedicate the work to His satisfaction.
Ask yourself
In my work today, am I seeking only my own satisfaction or the satisfaction of 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.