Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.1.58-60
Ūti· What drives us to actSteadiness Through Discipline and the Holy Name
“Once this brāhmaṇa Ajāmila, following the order of his father, went to the forest to collect fruit, flowers and two kinds of grass, called samit and kuśa. On the way home, he came upon a śūdra, a very lusty, fourth-class man, who was shamelessly embracing and kissing a prostitute. The śūdra was smiling, singing and enjoying as if this were proper behavior. Both the śūdra and the prostitute were drunk. The prostitute’s eyes were rolling in intoxication, and her dress had become loose. Such was the condition in which Ajāmila saw them.”
What the purport teaches
- While carrying out his father's order, Ajāmila encountered a drunken couple embracing. Even though he was a disciplined brahmacārī, the sight affected him.
- Remaining steady amid such provocation requires serious Kṛṣṇa consciousness and strong adherence to the regulative principles. These prohibit illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling.
- By Kṛṣṇa's grace, one who follows these principles and remains fixed in chanting His holy name receives His protection. Kṛṣṇa assures that His devotee is never vanquished.
Try this today
Set aside a few uninterrupted minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra attentively.
Ask yourself
How can I take chanting and the regulative principles more seriously when facing temptation?
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.