Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.19.2
Ūti· What drives us to actProgress Toward Unalloyed Service
“My dearly beloved wife, daughter of Śukrācārya, in this world there was someone exactly like me. Please listen as I narrate the history of his life. By hearing about the life of such a householder, those who have retired from householder life always lament.”
What the purport teaches
- Yayāti asks his wife to hear about someone whose behavior closely resembles his own. Those retired from household life lament on hearing such a history.
- The purport describes four stages of Vedic life: brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. It recommends retirement from family life at the end of one’s fiftieth year.
- Retirement should prepare one for sannyāsa, which means unalloyed engagement in the service of the Lord. Remaining absorbed in fulfilling lusty desires prevents this progress.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today for serving the Lord rather than pursuing personal enjoyment.
Ask yourself
How can your present responsibilities leave room for progress in 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.