Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.47.17
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesUnable to Stop Speaking About Kṛṣṇa
“Like a hunter, He cruelly shot the king of the monkeys with arrows. Because He was conquered by a woman, He disfigured another woman who came to Him with lusty desires. And even after consuming the gifts of Bali Mahārāja, He bound him up with ropes as if he were a crow. So let us give up all friendship with this dark-complexioned boy, even if we can’t give up talking about Him.”
What the purport teaches
- Rādhārāṇī recalls the Lord’s actions as Rāmacandra and Vāmanadeva. In Her reproach, She describes His treatment of Vāli, Śūrpaṇakhā and Bali Mahārāja as evidence of hardheartedness.
- Although She proposes giving up friendship with Kṛṣṇa, She admits the difficulty: they cannot give up talking about Him. Her words remain centered on Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- This speech is called avajalpa. Impelled by jealousy and fear, the lover declares Lord Hari unworthy of attachment because of His perceived harshness, lustiness and dishonesty.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes today reading aloud about Kṛṣṇa rather than turning to another topic.
Ask yourself
What does Rādhārāṇī’s inability to stop speaking about Kṛṣṇa reveal about Her attachment?
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.