Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.4.10
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKnow the Lord Through Devotional Service
“Kindly clear up all these doubtful inquiries, because you are not only vastly learned in the Vedic literatures and self-realized in transcendence, but are also a great devotee of the Lord and are therefore as good as the Personality of Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa’s innumerable expansions are nondifferent from Him, like lamps of equal power lit from one another. He remains the complete whole even when complete forms emanate from Him.
- Learning alone cannot give a clear understanding of the Lord’s name, form, qualities and pastimes. He is known through pure, unconditional devotional service.
- A serious devotee must approach a spiritual master who knows the Vedic literatures and has realized the Lord through devotion. One should eagerly hear both about His internal pastimes and His activities connected with creation.
Try this today
Write down one sincere question about the Lord’s energies to bring to a learned, realized devotee.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking knowledge of the Lord as a way to serve Him, or merely to gather information?
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.