Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.81.1-2
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Knows and Cherishes His Devotees
“[Śukadeva Gosvāmī said:] Lord Hari, Kṛṣṇa, perfectly knows the hearts of all living beings, and He is especially devoted to the brāhmaṇas. While the Supreme Lord, the goal of all saintly persons, conversed in this way with the best of the twice-born, He laughed and spoke the following words to that dear friend of His, the brāhmaṇa Sudāmā, all the while smiling and looking upon him with affection.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Kṛṣṇa knows the hearts of all living beings. He knew that Sudāmā had brought flat rice but felt ashamed to present it.
- Kṛṣṇa smiled and laughed affectionately, encouraging His friend to reveal the hidden gift. His loving glance also indicated that Sudāmā’s poverty would soon end.
- Although Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the independent Lord, He gladly reciprocates with His cherished servants. He especially favors brāhmaṇas who have unconditional devotion to Him.
Try this today
Take a quiet moment to express to Kṛṣṇa your sincere desire to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that Kṛṣṇa understands your heart affect your desire to serve Him?
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.