Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.66.15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesImitation Does Not Make One the Lord
“Lord Hari laughed heartily when He saw how the King had dressed up in exact imitation of His own appearance, just like an actor onstage.”
What the purport teaches
- Pauṇḍraka looked like an actor onstage playing Vāsudeva in false dress. His dress and makeup were clearly imitation.
- Seeing Pauṇḍraka imitate His posture and dress, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa could not check His laughter and laughed with great satisfaction.
- Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that a benediction from Lord Śiva enabled Pauṇḍraka to imitate the Lord’s dress and appearance exactly.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa for sincerity in your devotional service.
Ask yourself
Am I giving more attention to outward appearance than to sincere devotional service?
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.