Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.3.26
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionServe With Love, Not Religious Show
“Considering all these points, therefore, intelligent men decide to solve all problems by adopting the devotional service of chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart and who is a mine of all auspicious qualities. Such persons are not within my jurisdiction for punishment. Generally they never commit sinful activities, but even if by mistake or because of bewilderment or illusion they sometimes commit sinful acts, they are protected from sinful reactions because they always chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.”
What the purport teaches
- Scholarship alone does not reveal the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even someone without great learning can understand Him by becoming a pure devotee through devotional service.
- A truly thoughtful devotee serves the Lord with love through mind, words and body. Outward religious observance is not very effective when the mind is occupied elsewhere.
- Those who continually chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra are beyond Yamarāja’s jurisdiction for punishment. If a devotee sins unwillingly or accidentally because of former habits, the devotee is excused; this is not approval of deliberate wrongdoing.
Try this today
Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra for two minutes today, gently bringing your mind back whenever it wanders.
Ask yourself
When I engage in devotion, are my mind, words and body involved with love, or am I merely making an outward show?
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.