Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.22.16
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesService Means Following Kṛṣṇa’s Words
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: If you girls are actually My maidservants, and if you will really do what I say, then come here with your innocent smiles and let each girl pick out her clothes. If you don’t do what I say, I won’t give them back to you. And even if the king becomes angry, what can he do?”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead asked the gopīs to act on their declaration that they were His maidservants.
- He told them to come with their innocent smiles and each collect her own clothes. He would not return the garments if they refused.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that, seeing Kṛṣṇa’s strength and determination, the gopīs had no alternative but to abide by His order.
Try this today
Take one small intention to serve Kṛṣṇa and carry it out today.
Ask yourself
How can my actions better reflect my stated desire to serve 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.