Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.11.2
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyOur Eternal Duty Is Devotional Service
“Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said: My dear lord, I wish to hear from you about the principles of religion by which one can attain the ultimate goal of life — devotional service. I wish to hear about the general occupational duties of human society and the system of social and spiritual advancement known as varṇāśrama-dharma.”
What the purport teaches
- Sanātana-dharma means devotional service. It is the eternal occupational duty that continues in all circumstances.
- Every living entity is always serving someone, even when the body or outward religion changes. Our real duty is to serve Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, rather than the illusory material energy.
- This eternal duty can be organized through varṇāśrama, with its four social divisions and four stages of spiritual life. Its ultimate goal is devotional service.
Try this today
Choose one task today and consciously undertake it as service to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Is my service directed toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead or merely toward material interests?
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.