Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 19.161
Remove Whatever Obstructs Pure Devotion
“As soon as an intelligent devotee sees an unwanted creeper growing beside the original creeper, he must cut it down instantly. Then the real creeper, the bhakti-latā, grows nicely, returns home, back to Godhead, and seeks shelter under the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
What the purport teaches
- An intelligent devotee cuts down an unwanted creeper as soon as he sees it growing beside the bhakti-latā.
- Being misled by unwanted creepers prevents progress back to Godhead. One becomes engaged in activities unrelated to pure devotional service.
- Even elevation to higher planetary systems leaves one subject to material miseries. The real creeper grows toward shelter under Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
Try this today
Identify one activity that obstructs your devotional service and refrain from it today.
Ask yourself
What activity unrelated to pure devotional service is obstructing my devotional growth?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.