Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.5.20
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesBrotherly Affection and Kṛṣṇa’s Cowherd Family
“When Vasudeva heard that Nanda Mahārāja, his very dear friend and brother, had come to Mathurā and already paid the taxes to Kaṁsa, he went to Nanda Mahārāja’s residence.”
What the purport teaches
- When Vasudeva learned that Nanda Mahārāja had arrived in Mathurā and paid his taxes, he went to visit him. They were so closely connected that they lived like brothers.
- Śrīpāda Madhvācārya’s notes explain that they were stepbrothers: Nanda Mahārāja was born from Śūrasena’s marriage to a vaiśya girl. Nanda Mahārāja also married a vaiśya girl, Yaśodā, so his family is known as a vaiśya family.
- Identifying Himself as their son, Kṛṣṇa took charge of vaiśya activities. Balarāma carries a plow and represents agriculture, while Kṛṣṇa tends cows and carries a flute.
Try this today
Take a minute today to remember Balarāma with His plow and Kṛṣṇa tending cows with His flute.
Ask yourself
What do you appreciate about Kṛṣṇa identifying Himself with a family engaged in agriculture and cow protection?
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.