Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.3.19 · one of the 108 chosen verses
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSeek Spiritual Understanding, Not Mere Praise
“Men who are like dogs, hogs, camels and asses praise those men who never listen to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the deliverer from evils.”
What the purport teaches
- Human beings need systematic training in spiritual values. Without it, education and hard work may remain directed only toward material needs and enjoyment.
- Human beings are meant to discriminate in eating and accept remnants of food offered to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The purport names foods such as grains, vegetables, fruits and milk rather than animal food.
- Public praise does not establish spiritual greatness. Even a powerful leader falls short of human life’s purpose without a taste for hearing about Kṛṣṇa and understanding the science of Kṛṣṇa.
Try this today
Spend five minutes listening to an account of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental pastimes.
Ask yourself
Do the qualities I admire in others include a genuine desire to hear about Kṛṣṇa?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.