Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.14.55
Ūti· What drives us to actSurrender to Kṛṣṇa Beyond Karma
“My Lord, You may say that there is no law that a father must die in the lifetime of his son and that a son must be born in the lifetime of his father, since everyone lives and dies according to his own fruitive activity. However, if fruitive activity is so strong that birth and death depend upon it, there is no need of a controller, or God. Again, if You say that a controller is needed because the material energy does not have the power to act, one may answer that if the bonds of affection You have created are disturbed by fruitive action, no one will raise children with affection; instead, everyone will cruelly neglect his children. Since You have cut the bonds of affection that compel a parent to raise his child, You appear inexperienced and unintelligent.”
What the purport teaches
- In her grief, the Queen questions the need for a controller if birth and death depend on fruitive activity. The purport explains that the subtle laws of karma are controlled by the Supreme.
- One who takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service, is not affected by the results of karma. Understanding Kṛṣṇa and His control brings freedom by His grace.
- One should take to devotional service without reservations and surrender everything to the supreme will of the Lord. This brings happiness in this life and the next.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa, asking to serve Him without reservations.
Ask yourself
What reservation keeps me from surrendering more fully to Kṛṣṇa’s will?
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.