Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.80.44
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRecognizing the Fortune of Kṛṣṇa’s Company
“The brāhmaṇa said: What could I possibly have failed to achieve, O Lord of lords, O universal teacher, since I was able to personally live with You, whose every desire is fulfilled, at the home of our spiritual master?”
What the purport teaches
- Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa recognized his extraordinary good fortune in living with Śrī Kṛṣṇa at their spiritual master’s residence.
- The external difficulties they experienced were expressions of the Lord’s mercy, teaching the importance of service to the spiritual master.
- Sudāmā recognized Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord and everyone’s supreme spiritual master. Having lived with Him, Sudāmā felt that nothing remained to be achieved through prescribed Vedic duties.
Try this today
Write one sentence about why the opportunity for devotional service is a gift rather than merely a task.
Ask yourself
How does Sudāmā’s gratitude deepen your appreciation of service to the spiritual master?
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.