Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.7.13-15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGenuine Qualifications Make Blessings Fruitful
“When brāhmaṇas are free from envy, untruthfulness, unnecessary pride, grudges, disturbance by the opulence of others, and false prestige, their blessings never go in vain. Considering this, Nanda Mahārāja soberly took Kṛṣṇa on his lap and invited such truthful brāhmaṇas to perform a ritualistic ceremony according to the holy hymns of the Sāma Veda, Ṛg Veda and Yajur Veda. Then, while the hymns were being chanted, he bathed the child with water mixed with pure herbs, and after performing a fire ceremony, he sumptuously fed all the brāhmaṇas with first-class grains and other food.”
What the purport teaches
- Nanda Mahārāja invited truthful brāhmaṇas free from envy and false pride, not merely those born in brāhmaṇa families. Their blessings never go in vain.
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is self-sufficient and needs no blessings. Yet Nanda Mahārāja lovingly thought that the brāhmaṇas’ blessings would make his child happy.
- Brāhmaṇas must cultivate truthfulness, peacefulness, self-control and tolerance, and ultimately become Vaiṣṇavas. Offering carefully prepared food to the Lord and distributing prasāda is also a blessing from brāhmaṇas or Vaiṣṇavas.
Try this today
In one difficult conversation today, deliberately practice truthfulness and tolerance.
Ask yourself
Am I giving more attention to genuine devotional qualities than to status or recognition?
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.