Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.9.22-25
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Tastes His Own Lotus Feet
“The infant’s dark-blue complexion was the color of a flawless emerald, His lotus face shone with a wealth of beauty, and His throat bore marks like the lines on a conchshell. He had a broad chest, a finely shaped nose, beautiful eyebrows, and lovely ears that resembled pomegranate flowers and that had inner folds like a conchshell’s spirals. The corners of His eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus, and the effulgence of His corallike lips slightly reddened the nectarean, enchanting smile on His face. As He breathed, His splendid hair trembled and His deep navel became distorted by the moving folds of skin on His abdomen, which resembled a banyan leaf. The exalted brāhmaṇa watched with amazement as the infant took hold of one of His lotus feet with His graceful fingers, placed a toe within His mouth and began to suck.”
What the purport teaches
- The infant had a dark-blue complexion, a beautiful lotus face and a nectarean, enchanting smile. Mārkaṇḍeya watched with amazement as He placed a toe in His mouth.
- The purport identifies the child as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, playing like an ordinary baby.
- According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Kṛṣṇa wished to experience the nectar of His lotus feet for which so many devotees hanker. Thus He began to suck on His toes.
Try this today
Take one minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet with a desire to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How does the devotees’ longing for Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet inspire my own desire for devotional service?
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.