Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.70.7-9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDaily Honor and Abundant Giving
“Each day the Lord worshiped the rising sun and propitiated the demigods, sages and forefathers, who are all His expansions. The self-possessed Lord would then carefully worship His elders and the brāhmaṇas. To those well-attired brāhmaṇas He would offer herds of tame and peaceful cows with gold-plated horns and pearl necklaces. These cows were also dressed in fine cloth, and the fronts of their hooves were plated with silver. Providers of abundant milk, they had each given birth only once and were accompanied by their calves. Daily the Lord gave many groups of 13,084 cows to the learned brāhmaṇas, together with linen, deerskins and sesame seeds.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord daily worshiped the rising sun and propitiated the demigods, sages and forefathers, who are His expansions. He also carefully worshiped His elders and the brāhmaṇas.
- He gave learned brāhmaṇas many groups of 13,084 peaceful, richly decorated cows, accompanied by their calves. His gifts also included linen, deerskins and sesame seeds.
- The brāhmaṇas in Kṛṣṇa’s kingdom were well attired with fine clothes and ornaments. The purport urges readers to study Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead for its invaluable commentary on these pastimes.
Try this today
Offer a small, useful gift today with care and respect rather than haste.
Ask yourself
How can your giving express both generosity and respect for the recipient?
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.