Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.16.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesBow Willingly and Serve the Supreme Lord
“Having severely depleted the serpent’s strength with His relentless circling, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the origin of everything, pushed down Kāliya’s raised shoulders and mounted his broad serpentine heads. Thus Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the original master of all fine arts, began to dance, His lotus feet deeply reddened by the touch of the numerous jewels upon the serpent’s heads.”
What the purport teaches
- Material consciousness makes conditioned souls proud of their insignificant position and reluctant to bow before the Supreme Lord.
- Kṛṣṇa forced Kāliya’s heads down, just as the Lord’s energy as irresistible time forces arrogant heads to bow. We should instead become faithful servants and enthusiastically bow at His lotus feet.
- Kṛṣṇa, the original master of all fine arts, danced on the moving hoods with feet reddened by their jewels. His extraordinary dancing was meant for the pleasure of the young women of Vṛndāvana.
Try this today
Offer one deliberate bow to Kṛṣṇa today, expressing your wish to become His faithful servant.
Ask yourself
Where does pride make me reluctant to bow before Kṛṣṇa?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.