Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.47.20
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHumility and Hope Replace Harsh Feelings
“O friend of My dear one, has My beloved sent you here again? I should honor you, friend, so please choose whatever boon you wish. But why have you come back here to take us to Him, whose conjugal love is so difficult to give up? After all, gentle bee, His consort is the goddess Śrī, and she is always with Him, staying upon His chest.”
What the purport teaches
- When the bee disappeared, Rādhārāṇī feared it had reported Her harsh words and made Kṛṣṇa sorrowful. When it returned, She thought Kṛṣṇa had kindly sent it again to bring Her to Him.
- She now honors the messenger and carefully avoids speaking against Kṛṣṇa. She acknowledges that His consort Śrī remains upon His chest.
- This humble speech is called pratijalpa: the lover feels unworthy of attaining her beloved yet cannot abandon hope of a conjugal relationship with Him. Rādhārāṇī gives up Her harsh feelings and acknowledges Kṛṣṇa’s greatness.
Try this today
Offer a brief, humble prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa’s greatness and asking for the opportunity to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How can Rādhārāṇī’s renewed hope help me reflect on humility in devotion?
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.