Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.9.8
Ūti· What drives us to actVedic Learning Without Devotional Understanding
“After the father died, the nine stepbrothers of Jaḍa Bharata, who considered Jaḍa Bharata dull and brainless, abandoned the father’s attempt to give Jaḍa Bharata a complete education. The stepbrothers of Jaḍa Bharata were learned in the three Vedas — the Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda and Yajur Veda — which very much encourage fruitive activity. The nine brothers were not at all spiritually enlightened in devotional service to the Lord. Consequently they could not understand the highly exalted position of Jaḍa Bharata.”
What the purport teaches
- After their father died, Jaḍa Bharata’s nine stepbrothers stopped trying to educate him because they considered him dull and brainless.
- They were learned in the Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda and Yajur Veda, which encourage fruitive activity.
- Yet they lacked spiritual enlightenment in devotional service to the Lord. Consequently, they could not recognize Jaḍa Bharata’s exalted position.
Try this today
Review one thing you have learned about devotional service and consider how to put it into practice.
Ask yourself
Does my learning deepen my understanding of devotional service, or only increase information?
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.