Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.1.6-7
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear Kṛṣṇa’s Glories and Serve Him
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the reservoir of all beauty. All beautiful things emanate from Him, and His personal form is so attractive that it steals the eyes away from all other objects, which then seem devoid of beauty in comparison to Him. When Lord Kṛṣṇa was on the earth, He attracted the eyes of all people. When Kṛṣṇa spoke, His words attracted the minds of all who remembered them. By seeing the footsteps of Lord Kṛṣṇa, people became attracted to Him, and thus they wanted to offer their bodily activities to the Lord as His followers. In this way Kṛṣṇa very easily spread His glories, which are sung throughout the world by the most sublime and essential Vedic verses. Lord Kṛṣṇa considered that simply by hearing and chanting those glories, conditioned souls born in the future would cross beyond the darkness of ignorance. Being satisfied with this arrangement, He left for His desired destination.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all beauty and pleasure. As His eternal servants, we find full satisfaction by serving Him rather than seeking independent sense gratification.
- Kṛṣṇa’s form, words and activities attract living beings to Him. Their apparent resemblance to ordinary human life is His merciful arrangement to draw conditioned souls toward His spiritual kingdom.
- Hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s glories carries conditioned souls beyond the darkness of ignorance. Those seeking spiritual advancement should hear teachings about pure devotional service and avoid interpretations that encourage material desires.
Try this today
Spend five minutes reading this translation aloud, paying attention to how Kṛṣṇa attracts the eyes, mind and activities toward His service.
Ask yourself
How can I turn my desire for beauty and happiness toward giving pleasure to Kṛṣṇa?
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.