Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.48.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Supreme Lord Accepts Simple Service
“Having thus gotten the hard-to-get Supreme Lord by the simple act of offering Him body ointment, unfortunate Trivakrā submitted to that Lord of freedom the following request.”
What the purport teaches
- By simply offering body ointment, Trivakrā obtained the Supreme Lord, who is difficult to obtain and is the Lord of freedom.
- Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that she asked Him to enjoy only with her. She is called unfortunate because Kṛṣṇa was not prepared to grant this request.
- Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that her request appeared to ordinary eyes to seek material sexual pleasure. In fact, she was already a liberated soul.
Try this today
When reading this verse today, pause before judging Trivakrā and recall Śrīdhara Svāmī’s explanation.
Ask yourself
How does this account challenge judging someone’s spiritual position by outward appearances?
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.