Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.9.23
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLoving Penance Frees Us From Material Attachment
“O sinless Brahmā, you may know from Me that it was I who first ordered you to undergo penance when you were perplexed in your duty. Such penance is My heart and soul, and therefore penance and I are nondifferent.”
What the purport teaches
- The penance by which one approaches the Lord is devotional service in transcendental love. It is His internal potency and is nondifferent from Him.
- Devotional service brings detachment from the desire to dominate and enjoy the material world. Such penance includes both knowledge and detachment.
- Love and penance combined please the Lord and bring His mercy. Brahmājī was sinless and faithfully followed the Lord’s advice.
Try this today
Set aside one optional material enjoyment today and use that time for devotional service.
Ask yourself
Which desire for material enjoyment distracts me from lovingly serving the Lord?
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.