Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 24.169
Endeavor for Devotional Service
“ ‘The transcendental position cannot be attained by wandering up and down from Brahmaloka and Satyaloka to Pātālaloka. If one is actually intelligent and learned, he should endeavor for that rare transcendental position. By the force of time one attains whatever material happiness is available within the fourteen worlds, just as one attains distress in due course of time. But since spiritual consciousness is not attained in this way, one should try for it.’
What the purport teaches
- Wandering among the fourteen worlds cannot bring one to the transcendental position. An intelligent, learned person should endeavor for that rare position.
- Material happiness and distress arrive in due course of time. Spiritual consciousness does not come in this way; one must try for it.
- Vyāsadeva was morose even after compiling all the Vedic literatures. Nārada Muni advised him to try to attain devotional service and nothing else.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today for devotional service instead of pursuing an extra material comfort.
Ask yourself
Where could I direct more effort toward spiritual consciousness rather than material happiness?
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.