Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 24.27
Recognize Three Motives for Action
“The word ‘hetu’ [‘cause’] means that a thing is done for some motive. There can be three motives. One may act to enjoy the result personally, to achieve some material perfection, or to attain liberation.
What the purport teaches
- Hetu means “cause” and indicates that an action is done with a motive.
- One motive is to enjoy the result personally; another is to achieve some material perfection.
- A third motive is to attain liberation. The passage distinguishes these motives from causeless devotional service.
Try this today
Examine one action today and write down whether enjoyment, material perfection or liberation is part of your motive.
Ask yourself
Which of these motives do I notice in my own actions?
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.