Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.8.29
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesMercy Is Equal; Our Receptivity Differs
“O Lord, no one can understand Your transcendental pastimes, which appear to be human and so are misleading. You have no specific object of favor, nor do You have any object of envy. People only imagine that You are partial.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord’s pastimes appear human, but they are transcendental and free from material contamination. To consider the Personality of Godhead an ordinary human being is misleading.
- The Lord distributes His mercy equally, just as the sun distributes its rays. Differences arise from the recipients’ capacity to receive, not from partiality in the Lord.
- Pure devotees serve with love, not in exchange for some benefit. Those fully engaged in His service are full recipients of His mercy.
Try this today
Offer one prayer today asking for the opportunity to serve the Lord, without requesting a material benefit.
Ask yourself
Do I seek a lasting relationship of service, or turn to the Lord only when I need something?
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.