Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.5.9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGive Devotional Service First Place
“Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four principles beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of the Supreme Personality, Vāsudeva.”
What the purport teaches
- Vyāsadeva described religious performance, economic development, sense gratification and salvation more extensively than the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- These four aims are inferior to devotional service. No one can be substantially pleased without serving the Lord.
- Satisfaction in self-realization is the beginning of transcendental bliss, not the final goal. Nārada recommended eagerly and repeatedly describing devotional service so that realization would deepen and despondency would be cured.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to describe Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s glories rather than pursue a lesser priority.
Ask yourself
Am I treating devotional service as my goal or giving other aims greater importance?
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.