Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.3.33
Mukti· LiberationNever Give Up Devotional Service
“Devotees who always lick the honey from the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa do not care at all for material activities, which are performed under the three modes of material nature and which bring only misery. Indeed, devotees never give up the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa to return to material activities. Others, however, who are addicted to Vedic rituals because they have neglected the service of the Lord’s lotus feet and are enchanted by lusty desires, sometimes perform acts of atonement. Nevertheless, being incompletely purified, they return to sinful activities again and again.”
What the purport teaches
- A devotee’s duty is to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Seriously adopting this process brings perfection, even when one’s chanting is not yet free from offenses.
- Devotees who relish service at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet do not give up Kṛṣṇa consciousness for material enjoyment or Vedic ritualistic ceremonies.
- Those who neglect devotional service and rely on ritual atonement remain incompletely purified. Driven by lusty desires, they return to sinful activities and material distress again and again.
Try this today
When a desire for material enjoyment distracts you today, pause and spend a minute chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Am I cultivating devotion to Kṛṣṇa, or merely seeking relief from the results of my actions?
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.