Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.2.16
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesServing Devotees Awakens Eagerness to Hear
“O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.”
What the purport teaches
- By serving pure devotees who are freed from vice, one develops a taste for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva. Eagerness to hear about God is the first qualification for entering His kingdom.
- True servants of God urge people to become devotees of the Lord; they never falsely claim to be God. Claims of divine incarnation must be confirmed by the revealed scriptures.
- The Lord is especially pleased when His servants are properly respected, because they risk everything in His service. By serving them, one gradually gains their qualities.
Try this today
Offer one small act of practical help to a devotee who teaches the Lord’s messages.
Ask yourself
How could I cooperate with a servant of the Lord and become more eager to hear about Him?
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.