Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.7.3
Ūti· What drives us to actTrue Knowledge Requires Obedience to Kṛṣṇa
“The leaders of the demons thought it unwise to hold the tail, the inauspicious portion of the snake. Instead, they wanted to hold the front, which had been taken by the Personality of Godhead and the demigods, because that portion was auspicious and glorious. Thus the demons, on the plea that they were all highly advanced students of Vedic knowledge and were all famous for their birth and activities, protested that they wanted to hold the front of the snake.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord intended to hold the dangerous end of the snake and leave the safe tail for the demons. Their competitive desire led them to demand the end near the mouth.
- High education, noble birth and famous activities do not make someone godly. The purport explains that refusing to obey the Supreme Lord is a demoniac quality.
- Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His instructions should be accepted directly. Learning should lead to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and surrender, not whimsical interpretations that mislead others.
Try this today
Notice one competitive impulse today, and pause to ask whether it supports obedience to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Does your learning help you obey Kṛṣṇa, or does it sometimes feed a desire to feel superior?
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.