Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.13.15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesEven Brahmā Must Learn From Kṛṣṇa
“O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Brahmā, who resides in the higher planetary system in the sky, had observed the activities of the most powerful Kṛṣṇa in killing and delivering Aghāsura, and he was astonished. Now that same Brahmā wanted to show some of his own power and see the power of Kṛṣṇa, who was engaged in His childhood pastimes, playing as if with ordinary cowherd boys. Therefore, in Kṛṣṇa’s absence, Brahmā took all the boys and calves to another place. Thus he became entangled, for in the very near future he would see how powerful Kṛṣṇa was.”
What the purport teaches
- Brahmā was astonished by Kṛṣṇa’s activities and wanted to test Him. In trying to display his own power, he became entangled in Kṛṣṇa’s māyā.
- Anyone born through material energy is subject to mistakes, illusion, cheating and imperfect senses. Even Brahmā was subject to bewilderment.
- Brahmā took away boys and calves manifested by Kṛṣṇa’s māyā, not His personal associates. Everyone, from Brahmā to the smallest insect, must take lessons from Kṛṣṇa, the all-potent Supreme Person.
Try this today
Read one sentence of this purport again with the intention to learn rather than test or judge.
Ask yourself
Where might confidence in your own understanding make it harder to learn from Kṛṣṇa?
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.