Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.5.40
Mukti· LiberationDevotional Service Awakens Knowledge and Detachment
“Prajāpati Dakṣa continued: If you think that simply awakening the sense of renunciation will detach one from the material world, I must say that unless full knowledge is awakened, simply changing dresses as you have done cannot possibly bring detachment.”
What the purport teaches
- Changing one’s dress cannot bring detachment from the material world. Renunciation without awakened knowledge does not remove attachment to material enjoyment.
- Dakṣa correctly identified the danger of outward renunciation, but misunderstood Nārada Muni. Nārada had awakened full knowledge in Dakṣa’s sons, and their renunciation followed naturally.
- By seriously rendering devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, one acquires knowledge and detachment. This enlightened renunciation is desirable.
Try this today
Spend five minutes studying this teaching, then perform one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Am I giving more attention to outward appearance or to knowledge and sincere devotional service?
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.