Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.11.32
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLove Expressed Through Heart and Eyes
“The insuperable ecstasy was so strong that the queens, who were shy, first embraced the Lord in the innermost recesses of their hearts. Then they embraced Him visually, and then they sent their sons to embrace Him [which is equal to personal embracing]. But, O chief amongst the Bhṛgus, though they tried to restrain their feelings, they inadvertently shed tears.”
What the purport teaches
- Although shyness hindered the queens from embracing Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa directly, they embraced Him within their hearts and through their eyes.
- They also sent their sons to embrace Him. Because a son develops as part of his mother’s body, this embrace gave the satisfaction of an affectionate embrace.
- Still, the queens felt their embrace remained unfinished. Their tears flowed despite their efforts to restrain them, revealing the strength of their affection for the Lord.
Try this today
Take a quiet moment today to remember Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa within your heart with affection.
Ask yourself
What does the queens’ inward embrace teach me about heartfelt affection for Kṛṣṇa?
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.