Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.2.12
Ūti· What drives us to actProtect Life and Work for Lord Viṣṇu
“Immediately go wherever there is good protection for the cows and brāhmaṇas and wherever the Vedas are studied in terms of the varṇāśrama principles. Set fire to those places and cut from the roots the trees there, which are the source of life.”
What the purport teaches
- Peaceful human civilization needs trained brāhmaṇas to guide, kṣatriyas to rule according to the śāstras, and vaiśyas to produce food and protect cows.
- Trees also deserve protection. They should not be cut unnecessarily for industrial enterprises.
- Work should be performed as a sacrifice for Lord Viṣṇu; otherwise it binds us to the material world. Literature that clarifies our relationship with Him is part of this service.
Try this today
Read a short passage of literature that clarifies your relationship with Lord Viṣṇu.
Ask yourself
How can my use of natural resources support service to Lord Viṣṇu rather than unnecessary consumption?
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.