Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.8.21
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Makes Himself Approachable Through Mercy
“Let me therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who has become the son of Vasudeva, the pleasure of Devakī, the boy of Nanda and the other cowherd men of Vṛndāvana, and the enlivener of the cows and the senses.”
What the purport teaches
- Material assets cannot make the Lord approachable. Out of unbounded, causeless mercy, Kṛṣṇa descends to show special mercy to His unalloyed devotees.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead plays the part of an ordinary cowherd boy. Nanda and Yaśodā are especially fortunate because they relish His most attractive childhood pastimes.
- The residents of Vrajabhūmi dedicate everything to the Lord’s satisfaction. As Govinda, He especially favors the brāhmaṇas and the cows, and human prosperity depends on brahminical culture and cow protection.
Try this today
Offer respectful obeisances to Govinda today, remembering His mercy in becoming an approachable cowherd boy.
Ask yourself
What can I dedicate to Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction rather than rely on as a material asset?
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.