Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.6.17-18
Mukti· LiberationTake Shelter and Seek Devotee Association
“My dear friends, O sons of the demons, it is certain that no one bereft of knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has been able to liberate himself from material bondage at any time or in any country. Rather, those bereft of knowledge of the Lord are bound by the material laws. They are factually addicted to sense gratification, and their target is woman. Indeed, they are actually playthings in the hands of attractive women. Victimized by such a conception of life, they become surrounded by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and thus they are shackled to material bondage. Those who are very much addicted to this conception of life are called demons. Therefore, although you are sons of demons, keep aloof from such persons and take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, the origin of all the demigods, because the ultimate goal for the devotees of Nārāyaṇa is liberation from the bondage of material existence.”
What the purport teaches
- Without knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, no one can become free from material bondage. Attachment to sense enjoyment keeps one bound by material laws.
- Even apparent education does not remove deep family attachment. Uncontrolled senses lead one to repeat the same material pleasures, described as chewing the chewed.
- Prahlāda Mahārāja advises leaving the association of those addicted to sense enjoyment and seeking the association of devotees. Taking shelter of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, opens the way to liberation from material bondage.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes today speaking with a devotee about taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
Which associations encourage me to take shelter of the Lord rather than pursue sense enjoyment?
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.