Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.9.18
Mukti· LiberationFollow the Ācāryas in Hearing and Chanting
“O my Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, by engaging in Your transcendental loving service in the association of devotees who are liberated souls [haṁsas], I shall become completely uncontaminated by the association of the three modes of material nature and be able to chant the glories of Your Lordship, who are so dear to me. I shall chant Your glories, following exactly in the footsteps of Lord Brahmā and his disciplic succession. In this way I shall undoubtedly be able to cross the ocean of nescience.”
What the purport teaches
- Hearing and chanting the Supreme Lord’s holy name and activities free one from material contamination. This glorification is central to a devotee’s life and duty.
- One should chant genuine songs and narrations received through disciplic succession rather than inventing new methods. Following the previous ācāryas makes God realization and self-realization easy.
- Following the ācāryas’ instructions brings association with liberated devotees and helps one cross the ocean of ignorance. Real happiness comes through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not material attempts to remove suffering.
Try this today
Read aloud this prayer of Prahlāda Mahārāja, attending carefully to its words of loving service.
Ask yourself
How can you make your devotional practice more firmly guided by the previous ācāryas?
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.