Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.23.7
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFaith Should Lead to Generous Service
“Lord Rāma and Lord Acyuta are tending Their cows not far from here. They are hungry and want you to give Them some of your food. Therefore, O brāhmaṇas, O best of the knowers of religion, if you have faith please give some food to Them.”
What the purport teaches
- Doubting the brāhmaṇas’ generosity, the boys emphasized that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were hungry. They expected the brāhmaṇas to know that anyone hungry is fit to receive food in charity.
- If the brāhmaṇas would not recognize Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s authority, their title dvija would mean merely “born from two parents,” rather than “twice-born.”
- When the brāhmaṇas did not respond, the boys called them “best of the knowers of religion” with a slight trace of sarcasm.
Try this today
Give some food to someone who is hungry today.
Ask yourself
Does your understanding of religion move you to respond generously to others’ needs?
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.