Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.4.18-20 · one of the 108 chosen verses
Mukti· LiberationEngage Every Sense in Kṛṣṇa’s Service
“Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord’s temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Kṛṣṇa or about Kṛṣṇa. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s temples and Kṛṣṇa’s places like Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord’s devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord’s prasāda. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.”
What the purport teaches
- Bhakti means engaging the senses in the service of their master, Kṛṣṇa. Ambarīṣa engaged his mind, words, hands, ears and all his other senses in the Lord’s service.
- Devotional service must be learned under proper guidance. The devotee’s first business is to accept a bona fide spiritual master who can train the senses in transcendental service.
- Following Kṛṣṇa’s instructions and Ambarīṣa’s example helps one understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Serving the Lord rather than seeking sense gratification increases attachment to Him and frees one from material desires.
Try this today
Spend five attentive minutes hearing or reading Bhagavad-gītā as words spoken directly by Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Which of my senses could I engage more deliberately in Kṛṣṇa’s service today?
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.