Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.89.10-11
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesMercy Does Not Make Offense Praiseworthy
“Please purify Me, My realm and the realms of the universal rulers devoted to Me by giving us the water that has washed your feet. This holy water is indeed what makes all places of pilgrimage sacred. Today, my lord, I have become the exclusive shelter of the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī; she will consent to reside on My chest because your foot has rid it of sins.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord humbly asked for the water that had washed Bhṛgu’s feet to purify Himself and His realms. He spoke of that water as making places of pilgrimage sacred.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against taking pride in Bhṛgu’s kicking Lord Viṣṇu’s chest. It was the greatest offense, although the greatly magnanimous Lord did not take it very seriously.
- The purport also includes the Lord’s concern for Bhṛgu’s tender feet. Lord Viṣṇu began massaging them with His own hands.
Try this today
Recall one kindness shown after your mistake, and acknowledge it with gratitude rather than self-justification.
Ask yourself
Do I mistake another person’s forgiveness for approval of my behavior?
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.