Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.11.6
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionDevotion Seeks No Material Profit
“O Lord, You are the master of the entire universe. What have You not given to us? You have entered the core of our hearts and dissipated the darkness of our ignorance by Your effulgence. This is the supreme gift. We do not need a material donation.”
What the purport teaches
- The brāhmaṇas called the Lord’s removal of ignorance from their hearts the supreme gift. Having received this enlightenment, they did not need a material donation.
- A devotee should not serve like a merchant seeking profit in exchange. Devotion undertaken for material gain is not pure devotion.
- Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas are directed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the heart and possess what is necessary. Wanting more and more for personal sense gratification is ignorance.
Try this today
Offer one prayer today asking for freedom from ignorance rather than material gain.
Ask yourself
Do I approach devotional service for its own sake, or mainly for what I hope to receive?
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.