Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.11.4-5
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOffer Love Without Bargaining
“The citizens arrived before the Lord with their respective presentations, offering them to the fully satisfied and self-sufficient one, who, by His own potency, incessantly supplies others. These presentations were like the offering of a lamp to the sun. Yet the citizens began to speak in ecstatic language to receive the Lord, just as wards welcome their guardian and father.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is self-sufficient and fully blissful. He needs no gifts, since everything already comes from His energy.
- As everyone’s well-wisher, He accepts offerings made in pure devotional service. Such offerings express love and affection, without demands from either side.
- The Lord is the supreme father of all living beings. He does not give a pure devotee anything that would obstruct devotional service.
Try this today
Offer one small act of service to the Lord today without asking for a reward.
Ask yourself
Am I offering service out of affection, or expecting something in return?
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.