Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.6.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Reciprocates Love Without Lust
“My Lord, You are living with sixteen thousand exquisitely beautiful, aristocratic wives. By their irresistible coy and smiling glances and by their lovely arching eyebrows, they send You messages of eager conjugal love. But they are completely unable to disturb the mind and senses of Your Lordship.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa is complete in Himself and the reservoir of all pleasure. Even His sixteen thousand beautiful wives cannot disturb His mind and senses.
- Although Kṛṣṇa may be conquered by His devotees’ intense love, He is never driven by ordinary lust. He reciprocates spiritual loving affairs simply for His devotees’ sake.
- As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa possesses the highest perfection of beauty, strength, wealth, fame, knowledge and renunciation. Everyone should recognize His transcendental position and surrender to Him.
Try this today
Offer Kṛṣṇa a short prayer of love and surrender, remembering that He is already fully satisfied in Himself.
Ask yourself
How can I remember that Kṛṣṇa’s loving exchanges are different from ordinary desires?
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.