Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.1.62-63
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotees Gather for the Lord’s Pastimes
“The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, headed by Nanda Mahārāja and including his associate cowherd men and their wives, were none but denizens of the heavenly planets, O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of the descendants of Bharata, and so too were the descendants of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty, headed by Vasudeva and Devakī and the other women of the dynasty of Yadu. The friends, relatives and well-wishers of both Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva and even those who externally appeared to be followers of Kaṁsa were all demigods.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead called denizens of the heavenly planets to take birth in Vṛndāvana and the Yadu and Vṛṣṇi families. They came to witness Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
- The Lord’s pastimes include saving His devotees and killing demons. He also plays the roles of friend, son and brother to His devotees.
- Some devotees who have not completed devotional service are elevated to heavenly planets and may later reach the place of the Lord’s pastimes. Even those who outwardly helped Kaṁsa came from higher planetary systems.
Try this today
Reread this translation slowly, remembering that these families and friends gathered to witness the Lord’s pastimes.
Ask yourself
What draws me to hear about Kṛṣṇa’s relationships with His devotees?
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.