Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 22.137-139
Engage the Senses in Loving Service
“ ‘Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the spiritual world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his hands in cleansing and washing the Lord’s temple, his ears in hearing topics about the Supreme Lord, his eyes in seeing the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa in the temple, his body in embracing Vaiṣṇavas or touching their lotus feet, his nostrils in smelling the aroma of the tulasī leaves offered to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, his tongue in tasting food offered to Kṛṣṇa, his legs in going to places of pilgrimage like Vṛndāvana and Mathurā or to the Lord’s temple, his head in touching the lotus feet of the Lord and offering Him obeisances, and his desires in serving the Lord faithfully. In this way Mahārāja Ambarīṣa engaged his senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As a result, he awakened his dormant loving propensity for the Lord’s service.’
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Ambarīṣa engaged his mind at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, his words in describing the spiritual world and the Lord, and his ears in hearing about Him. His eyes saw Kṛṣṇa’s Deity, and his hands cleaned the Lord’s temple.
- He engaged his body in embracing Vaiṣṇavas or touching their lotus feet, his nostrils in smelling offered tulasī leaves, and his tongue in tasting food offered to Kṛṣṇa. His legs carried him to holy places or the temple, and his head bowed before the Lord.
- His desires were directed toward serving the Lord faithfully. By engaging his senses in transcendental loving service, he awakened his dormant love for the Lord’s service.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes hearing topics about the Supreme Lord with focused attention.
Ask yourself
Which of your senses could you engage more consciously in the Lord’s service?
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.