Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.4.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesTransform Ordinary Work Into Devotional Service
“Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, who is perfectly peaceful and is the best of sages, was born as the son of Dharma and his wife Mūrti, the daughter of Dakṣa. Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi taught the devotional service of the Lord, by which material work ceases, and He Himself perfectly practiced this knowledge. He is living even today, His lotus feet served by the greatest of saintly persons.”
What the purport teaches
- Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi appeared as the son of Dharma and Mūrti. Perfectly peaceful, He both taught and practiced devotional service and is still served by great saintly persons.
- Devotional service is the living entity’s eternal nature, but the material concept of life covers our perception of it like a dream. Only devotional service brings naiṣkarmyam, the cessation of material work.
- Work for personal enjoyment brings bondage and trouble. Its results become fruitful when offered in service to the Personality of Godhead, who is their rightful enjoyer.
Try this today
Set aside a small part of today’s earnings or the result of one task for the Lord’s devotional service.
Ask yourself
Which result of my work could I offer for the Lord’s service instead of keeping only for myself?
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.