Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.16.59
Mukti· LiberationChoose Devotion Over Fruitive Desires
“Remembering the great trouble found in the field of activities performed for fruitive results, and remembering how one receives the reverse of the results one desires — whether from material actions or from the fruitive activities recommended in the Vedic literatures — an intelligent man should cease from the desire for fruitive actions, for by such endeavors one cannot achieve the ultimate goal of life. On the other hand, if one acts without desires for fruitive results — in other words, if one engages in devotional activities — he can achieve the highest goal of life with freedom from miserable conditions. Considering this, one should cease from material desires.”
What the purport teaches
- Activities performed for fruitive results bring great trouble and can produce the opposite of what one desires. This applies both to material actions and to fruitive activities recommended in Vedic literature.
- An intelligent person considers these difficulties and gives up the desire for fruitive results. Such endeavors cannot achieve the ultimate goal of life.
- Devotional activities performed without desire for fruitive results lead to the highest goal of life. They bring freedom from miserable conditions.
Try this today
Perform one small devotional activity today without asking for a material reward.
Ask yourself
What result am I seeking that may be distracting me from devotional service itself?
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.