Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.8.3
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOffer Service with Gentle Words
“When Garga Muni had been properly received as a guest and was very comfortably seated, Nanda Mahārāja submitted with gentle and submissive words: Dear sir, because you are a devotee, you are full in everything. Yet my duty is to serve you. Kindly order me. What can I do for you?”
What the purport teaches
- Nanda Mahārāja properly received Garga Muni as a guest and seated him comfortably.
- He spoke with gentle and submissive words, recognizing that Garga Muni was full in everything because he was a devotee.
- Even though Garga Muni lacked nothing, Nanda Mahārāja considered serving him his own duty.
Try this today
Gently ask a devotee, “What can I do for you?” and be ready to help.
Ask yourself
Can I offer service humbly, without assuming that a devotee needs something from me?
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.