Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.15.13
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyReligion Is Given, Not Invented
“Religious principles that obstruct one from following his own religion are called vidharma. Religious principles introduced by others are called para-dharma. A new type of religion created by one who is falsely proud and who opposes the principles of the Vedas is called upadharma. And interpretation by one’s jugglery of words is called chala-dharma.”
What the purport teaches
- Real religion is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as real law is given by the government. No one can manufacture actual religion at home.
- The real religious system leads one to become a devotee of the Supreme Lord. Anything opposed to progressive Kṛṣṇa consciousness falls among the misleading systems described here.
- Making Kṛṣṇa’s direct words mean something different is chala-dharma, or cheating religion. One should carefully avoid such jugglery of words.
Try this today
Reread the purport’s teaching on surrender and write its meaning in one plain sentence without altering it.
Ask yourself
Am I willing to accept Kṛṣṇa’s direct teaching without changing it to suit myself?
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.