Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.10.28
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesReligious Rites Lead to Loving Service
“O friends, just think of His wives, whose hands He has accepted. How they must have undergone vows, baths, fire sacrifices and perfect worship of the Lord of the universe to constantly relish now the nectar from His lips [by kissing]. The damsels of Vrajabhūmi would often faint just by expecting such favors.”
What the purport teaches
- Prescribed religious rites purify conditioned souls so they can gradually render transcendental service to the Supreme Lord. These rites are means, not ends in themselves.
- The highest perfection is svarūpa, the living being’s factual spiritual identity in loving service. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is complete in Himself but accepts different relationships to fulfill His devotees’ intense love.
- The queens of Dvārakā and the damsels of Vraja share conjugal love with the Lord. Their loving exchanges with Him have no mundane, perverted quality.
Try this today
Before one devotional activity today, pause and remember that its purpose is loving service, not merely completing a rite.
Ask yourself
How can I keep loving service to the Lord as the purpose of my religious practice?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.