Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.86.59
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPure Devotion Matters More Than Birth
“O King, thus the Personality of Godhead, who is devoted to His own devotees, stayed for some time with His two great devotees Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva, teaching them the behavior of perfect saints. Then the Lord returned to Dvārakā.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is devoted to His devotees. He stayed with Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva, taught them the behavior of perfect saints, and then returned to Dvārakā.
- The Lord accepted both devotees on the same level because both were pure devotees. Birth alone does not establish a person’s qualification as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya.
- Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfection, through which everyone can become a Vaiṣṇava with all the qualifications of a brāhmaṇa. This training includes freedom from illicit sex, intoxicants, gambling and eating animal foodstuffs, as preliminary qualifications for pure devotional service.
Try this today
Choose one action of devotional service today, focusing on sincerity rather than recognition or status.
Ask yourself
Do I place greater value on birth and social standing, or on the qualities of pure devotion?
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.