Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.4.1
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear About the Lord to Deepen Worship
“King Nimi said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into the material world by His internal potency and according to His own desire. Therefore, please tell us about the various pastimes Lord Hari has performed in the past, is performing now and will perform in this world in the future in His various incarnations.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead descends by His internal potency and His own desire. King Nimi eagerly asks about His incarnations to advance in loving service.
- Worship requires knowledge of the Lord’s transcendental qualities and pastimes. Among His eternal forms, one should worship the form that most inspires one’s love.
- One must not invent a form of the Lord or imitate love for Him. Love awakens through following the bona fide spiritual master’s instructions and submissively hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Try this today
Read this translation slowly, with the intention of learning about Lord Hari for His loving service.
Ask yourself
How can hearing about the Lord’s qualities and pastimes deepen my worship?
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.