Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.13.40
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPure Devotees Guide Us Beyond Ignorance
“You are like a captain of a ship in a great ocean and you can direct us to our destination. Thus addressed, the godly personality, Devarṣi Nārada, greatest of the philosopher devotees, began to speak.”
What the purport teaches
- The greatest philosophers have seen the Personality of Godhead and surrendered themselves in transcendental loving service to Him. Devarṣi Nārada is chief among such pure devotees.
- A learned philosopher devotee hears Vedānta philosophy from a bona fide spiritual master. Faithfulness, learning and renunciation are necessary qualities of a pure devotee.
- A pure devotee can guide us beyond ignorance, like a captain guiding a ship across the ocean. Nārada was always ready to give the Pāṇḍavas good counsel.
Try this today
Spend five minutes carefully reading this purport, and note one instruction that can guide your service to the Lord.
Ask yourself
How willing are you to receive guidance from a pure devotee rather than rely only on your own judgment?
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.