Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.89.57
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Honors His Own Expansion
“Lord Kṛṣṇa offered homage to Himself in this boundless form, and Arjuna, astonished at the sight of Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu, bowed down as well. Then, as the two of them stood before Him with joined palms, the almighty Mahā-Viṣṇu, supreme master of all rulers of the universe, smiled and spoke to them in a voice full of solemn authority.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa offered homage to Mahā-Viṣṇu, His own plenary expansion, to carry out His pastimes. This preserved the special sanctity of His humanlike pastimes.
- The Lord has countless manifestations, including this eight-armed form. Kṛṣṇa never falls from His position or stops engaging in His humanlike pastimes as a cowherd boy of Vṛndāvana.
- Mahā-Viṣṇu spoke with solemn authority according to Kṛṣṇa’s intention. His words subtly indicated that Kṛṣṇa is His source, supreme in beauty, character and power.
Try this today
Offer a respectful bow to Kṛṣṇa, remembering that His humanlike pastimes do not diminish His supremacy.
Ask yourself
Why should I avoid mistaking Kṛṣṇa’s respectful behavior for a loss of His supreme position?
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.