Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.9.4
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyPleasing the Lord Perfects Religious Duties
“The brāhmaṇa father’s mind was always filled with affection for his son, Jaḍa Bharata [Bharata Mahārāja]. Therefore he was always attached to Jaḍa Bharata. Because Jaḍa Bharata was unfit to enter the gṛhastha-āśrama, he simply executed the purificatory process up to the end of the brahmacarya-āśrama. Although Jaḍa Bharata was unwilling to accept his father’s instructions, the brāhmaṇa nonetheless instructed him in how to keep clean and how to wash, thinking that the son should be taught by the father.”
What the purport teaches
- Jaḍa Bharata appeared unresponsive, but inwardly he was alert and completely absorbed in devotional service.
- The perfection of religious duties is to satisfy Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Duties that do not awaken attraction for the Lord’s message are only useless labor.
- The regulative principles of fruitive activity are needed until Kṛṣṇa consciousness develops. Jaḍa Bharata’s lack of interest in them arose from his complete inner devotion.
Try this today
Before one devotional activity today, consciously make pleasing the Lord your purpose.
Ask yourself
How are my religious activities helping me develop attraction for the Lord?
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.