Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.9.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear With Faith and Serve With Love
“Lord Brahmā, thus seeing the Personality of Godhead in His fullness, was overwhelmed with joy within his heart, and thus in full transcendental love and ecstasy, his eyes filled with tears of love. He thus bowed down before the Lord. That is the way of the highest perfection for the living being [paramahaṁsa].”
What the purport teaches
- Seeing the Lord, Brahmā was overwhelmed with joy, shed tears of love and bowed down. The highest perfection is attained through steady bhakti-yoga, not through mental or mechanical means.
- One should firmly believe in the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa and hear about Him from Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Loving devotional service, rather than speculative efforts to become one with Him, leads to perfection.
- One may remain in one’s present condition of life while hearing faithfully from a bona fide devotee. This humble path can win the mercy of the Lord, who is otherwise unconquerable.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to hear a bona fide devotee explain Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Ask yourself
How can I make faithful hearing from a bona fide devotee part of my present life?
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.