Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.83.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOffer With Love, Not for Profit
“With devotion he presented the perfectly complete Lord with a number of maidservants bedecked with precious ornaments. Accompanying these maidservants were guards walking on foot and others riding elephants, chariots and horses. He also gave the Lord extremely valuable weapons.”
What the purport teaches
- The father presented the Lord with richly adorned maidservants, accompanying guards and valuable weapons. He made these offerings out of devotion.
- The Supreme Lord is pūrṇa, perfect and complete in Himself. He requires nothing for His satisfaction.
- A pure devotee offers only out of love, without expecting material profit. The Lord happily accepts even flowers, tulasī leaves or water offered with love.
Try this today
Offer Kṛṣṇa a little water with love, without asking for a material reward.
Ask yourself
Can you offer something to Kṛṣṇa without expecting anything material in return?
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.