Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.6.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear About Kṛṣṇa and Purify the Heart
“The nectar-bearing rivers of discussions about You, and also the holy rivers generated from the bathing of Your lotus feet, are able to destroy all contamination within the three worlds. Those who are striving for purification associate with the holy narrations of Your glories by hearing them with their ears, and they associate with the holy rivers flowing from Your lotus feet by physically bathing in them.”
What the purport teaches
- One should hear about Kṛṣṇa from the bona fide spiritual master. When the disciple is sincere and obedient, this speaking and hearing is nectar for both teacher and disciple.
- Hearing about the Lord destroys contamination in the heart, especially the desire to live without serving Kṛṣṇa. Pure knowledge of the Lord and devotional service comes through the bona fide spiritual master, not whimsical speculation.
- The waters that bathe the Lord’s feet are called caraṇāmṛta. The purport recommends bathing in the Ganges or Yamunā and describes taking three drops of the Deities’ bathing water as ways to purify the heart.
Try this today
Spend five minutes reading from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, looking for one instruction on serving Kṛṣṇa to follow today.
Ask yourself
Am I hearing about Kṛṣṇa with a sincere desire to learn how to serve Him?
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.