Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.12.24
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAssociate With Kṛṣṇa by Following His Instructions
“This child will be almost as good as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa by following in His footsteps. In magnanimity he will become as great as King Rantideva. And in religion he will be like Mahārāja Yayāti.”
What the purport teaches
- Association is the cause of acquiring qualities, just as association with fire makes an object hot. Association with Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, develops godly qualities.
- Following the Lord’s instructions is association with Him. His instructions, name, fame and attributes are identical with Him, so physical presence is not required.
- Parīkṣit acquired essential good qualities through lifelong association with the Lord. His magnanimity is compared to Rantideva’s, and his religious conduct to Yayāti’s.
Try this today
Read the instruction to follow the Lord alone in this purport, and choose one action today that puts it before your own preference.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the Lord is present in His instructions change my approach to following them?
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.