Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.7.13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSeek Knowledge to Deepen Loving Service
“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmi said: O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, thus instructed His pure devotee Uddhava, who was eager to receive knowledge from the Lord. Uddhava then offered obeisances to the Lord and spoke as follows.”
What the purport teaches
- Uddhava, a pure devotee, eagerly receives instruction from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Before speaking, he offers the Lord obeisances.
- Uddhava already considers devotional service to Kṛṣṇa the perfection of life. With the Lord about to leave the earth, he longs to deepen his understanding and advance in loving service.
- A pure devotee does not seek knowledge for personal gratification. The desire to know the truth supports deeper devotion at the Lord’s lotus feet.
Try this today
Before studying today, offer respects to Kṛṣṇa and resolve to learn for the sake of loving service.
Ask yourself
Is my study helping me serve Kṛṣṇa more lovingly, or mainly satisfying my desire to know?
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.