Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.85.37
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSelf-Surrender Is the Culmination of Devotion
“He worshiped Them with all the riches at his disposal — priceless clothing, ornaments, fragrant sandalwood paste, betel nut, lamps, sumptuous food and so on. Thus he offered Them all his family’s wealth, and also his own self.”
What the purport teaches
- Bali Mahārāja worships the Lords with all his family’s wealth and also offers himself. His devotional attitude is the perfect example of complete self-surrender.
- When Lord Viṣṇu approached him for charity as a young brāhmaṇa student, Bali offered everything he possessed. With nothing more to offer, he surrendered himself as the Supreme Lord’s eternal servant.
- Ātma-samarpaṇam, the last of the nine standard processes of devotional service, is the culmination toward which every endeavor should aim. Without humbly understanding oneself as the Lord’s servant, displays of wealth, power or intelligence are only a presumptuous show.
Try this today
Before one act of devotional service today, pause and say, “I am Your servant; let this be for Your service.”
Ask yourself
Am I trying to impress the Lord, or learning to serve Him humbly?
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.