Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.61.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesChoose Personal Service to the Lord
“Although the Supreme Lord’s queens each had hundreds of maidservants, they chose to personally serve the Lord by approaching Him humbly, offering Him a seat, worshiping Him with excellent paraphernalia, bathing and massaging His feet, giving Him pān to chew, fanning Him, anointing Him with fragrant sandalwood paste, adorning Him with flower garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed, bathing Him and presenting Him with various gifts.”
What the purport teaches
- Although each queen had hundreds of maidservants, she chose to serve the Supreme Lord personally and humbly.
- Their service included offering a seat, bathing and massaging His feet, fanning Him and presenting gifts. Their excellent offerings included palmfuls of flowers and jewels.
- Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī repeated these descriptions because he was so eager to describe the Lord’s glorious pastimes with His queens.
Try this today
Offer Kṛṣṇa a flower today, with humble attention to serving Him.
Ask yourself
What small service could you offer personally rather than leave for someone else?
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.