Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.6.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesServe Sincerely and Depend on Mercy
“I desired to see again that transcendental form of the Lord, but despite my attempts to concentrate upon the heart with eagerness to view the form again, I could not see Him any more, and thus dissatisfied, I was very much aggrieved.”
What the purport teaches
- There is no mechanical process for seeing the Lord. His appearance depends completely on His causeless mercy, not on our demand.
- One should continue prescribed duties in devotional service while awaiting the opportune moment. Even Nārada Muni could not repeat his vision by repeating his effort.
- The Lord is completely independent and cannot be perceived by material senses. He may reveal Himself when pleased by sincere devotional service that depends on His mercy.
Try this today
Perform one small act of devotional service today without making an extraordinary experience the measure of its value.
Ask yourself
Can I continue serving sincerely without demanding a particular spiritual experience?
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.