Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.8.12
Ūti· What drives us to actIncrease Affection for the Supreme Lord
“When Mahārāja Bharata wanted to enter the forest to collect kuśa grass, flowers, wood, leaves, fruits, roots and water, he would fear that dogs, jackals, tigers and other ferocious animals might kill the deer. He would therefore always take the deer with him when entering the forest.”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Bharata feared that ferocious animals might kill the deer. He therefore took it with him whenever he entered the forest.
- Even though he had attained loving affection for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his attachment to the animal caused him to fall from his spiritual position.
- Unless we increase our faith and love for the Supreme Lord, we become attracted to other things. Such attachment is the cause of material bondage.
Try this today
Set aside a few quiet minutes today to turn your attention and affection toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
Is your affection for the Supreme Lord growing alongside your other concerns?
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.