Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 6.182
False Scriptures Obscure Transcendental Knowledge
“[Lord Śiva informed goddess Durgā, the superintendent of the material world:] ‘In the Age of Kali I take the form of a brāhmaṇa and explain the Vedas through false scriptures in an atheistic way, similar to Buddhist philosophy.’”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva tells goddess Durgā that in the Age of Kali he takes the form of a brāhmaṇa and explains the Vedas in an atheistic way. The purport identifies this form as Śaṅkarācārya, the founder of Māyāvāda philosophy.
- Māyāvāda philosophy states that the Supreme Lord, the living entities and the cosmic manifestation are all transformations of illusory energy.
- The purport says that false scriptures are cited to support this theory. They deprive people of transcendental knowledge and make them addicted to fruitive activities and mental speculation.
Try this today
Reread the purport and write down the effects it attributes to relying on false scriptures.
Ask yourself
Does my study help me seek transcendental knowledge, or draw me further into mental speculation?
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.