Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.8.51
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Affection Grows Through Association
“Thereafter, O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of the Bhāratas, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead became the son of Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, they maintained continuous, unswerving devotional love in parental affection. And in their association, all the other inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, the gopas and gopīs, developed the culture of kṛṣṇa-bhakti.”
What the purport teaches
- Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā maintained continuous, unswerving parental love for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their association also increased the devotional service of Vṛndāvana’s inhabitants.
- Kṛṣṇa’s stealing butter, curd and milk seemed troublesome, but it was an exchange of affection. The more the gopas and gopīs exchanged feelings with Him, the more their devotion increased.
- Difficulty in devotional service may appear to be ordinary suffering, but suffering for Kṛṣṇa is transcendental enjoyment. This can be understood only by becoming a devotee.
Try this today
Speak with a devotee today about one teaching from this verse that strengthens your desire to serve Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Whose association encourages you to become steadier in devotional service?
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.