Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.5.15-16
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPlease Viṣṇu by Honoring His Devotees
“The great-minded Mahārāja Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cows in charity to the cowherd men in order to please Lord Viṣṇu, and thus he improved the condition of his own son in all respects. He distributed charity to the sūtas, the māgadhas, the vandīs, and men of all other professions, according to their educational qualifications, and satisfied everyone’s desires.”
What the purport teaches
- Nanda Mahārāja generously distributed clothing, ornaments and cows to please Lord Viṣṇu and benefit his son. He gave suitable gifts to people of different professions according to their educational qualifications.
- Those he honored were devotees of Nārāyaṇa, not Nārāyaṇa Himself. Satisfying them was an indirect way of satisfying Lord Viṣṇu, who values worship of His devotees above direct worship of Himself.
- The ultimate goal of life, and the purpose of the varṇāśrama system, is to please Lord Viṣṇu. Because He is the root of everything, pleasing Him benefits everyone, including one’s family.
Try this today
Offer one small gift or practical help to a devotee today, with the intention of pleasing Lord Viṣṇu.
Ask yourself
How might your giving change if your aim were to please Lord Viṣṇu?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.