Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.5.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Service Goes Beyond Material Goals
“Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the teachers of Prahlāda Mahārāja, chastised and threatened their disciple in various ways and began teaching him about the paths of religion, economic development and sense gratification. This is the way they educated him.”
What the purport teaches
- Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka tried to induce Prahlāda Mahārāja to accept religion, economic development and sense gratification. Their attempt to make him accept materialistic life failed.
- Materialistic persons use religion to improve their material conditions and satisfy their senses. Prahlāda, however, was always joyful in worshiping the Lord.
- Devotional service to the Lord is above even liberation. This is why Kṛṣṇa consciousness is difficult for those absorbed in material goals to understand.
Try this today
Spend one minute worshiping the Lord without asking for any material benefit.
Ask yourself
Do I approach worship mainly for material improvement, or for the joy of serving the Lord?
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.