Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.9.32
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPurify Desires Through Devotional Service
“Bhīṣmadeva said: Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is always self-satisfied, but sometimes, being the leader of the devotees, He enjoys transcendental pleasure by descending to the material world, although from Him only the material world is created.”
What the purport teaches
- Bhīṣmadeva’s thinking, feeling and willing had been occupied with many responsibilities. He now wanted to invest all these powers entirely in Lord Kṛṣṇa to achieve pure devotional service.
- Desires need not be wiped out; they need to be purified. Pure devotees desire only the Lord’s service, and He guides them from within the heart toward returning to Godhead.
- Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead, self-satisfied and all-powerful. He descends by His own will to give His pure devotees devotional service and enjoy their association, never being forced by material nature.
Try this today
Write down one desire and one small way to turn it toward service to Lord Kṛṣṇa today.
Ask yourself
Which desire could I redirect toward the Lord’s service rather than simply trying to suppress it?
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.