Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.12.7-11
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFix Your Attention on Kṛṣṇa
“All the boys would be differently engaged. Some boys blew their flutes, and others blew bugles made of horn. Some imitated the buzzing of the bumblebees, and others imitated the voice of the cuckoo. Some boys imitated flying birds by running after the birds’ shadows on the ground, some imitated the beautiful movements and attractive postures of the swans, some sat down with the ducks, sitting silently, and others imitated the dancing of the peacocks. Some boys attracted young monkeys in the trees, some jumped into the trees, imitating the monkeys, some made faces as the monkeys were accustomed to do, and others jumped from one branch to another. Some boys went to the waterfalls and crossed over the river, jumping with the frogs, and when they saw their own reflections on the water they would laugh. They would also condemn the sounds of their own echoes. In this way, all the cowherd boys used to play with Kṛṣṇa, who is the source of the Brahman effulgence for jñānīs desiring to merge into that effulgence, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead for devotees who have accepted eternal servitorship, and who for ordinary persons is but another ordinary child. The cowherd boys, having accumulated the results of pious activities for many lives, were able to associate in this way with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How can one explain their great fortune?”
What the purport teaches
- The boys played with Kṛṣṇa through music, animal imitations and many forest games. Their companion is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom devotees accept in eternal servitorship.
- Somehow or other, we should concentrate our full attention upon Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Even a little attention toward Kṛṣṇa and activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness opens the way to life’s highest perfection.
- Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the easiest way of directly approaching Kṛṣṇa. By adhering to it and Bhagavad-gītā, one is assured of Kṛṣṇa’s association in the next life; remembering Him at life’s end makes life successful.
Try this today
Read this passage for five minutes without distractions, with the intention of remembering and serving Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How can you give Kṛṣṇa a little more of your attention today?
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.