Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.1.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOur Happiness Depends on the Lord’s Grace
“[Please tell me] whether the original Personalities of Godhead, who incarnated Themselves at the request of Brahmā [who is born out of the lotus flower from the Lord] and who have increased the prosperity of the world by elevating everyone, are doing well in the house of Śūrasena.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are not separate Gods. God is one, and His many plenary expansions are not separate from one another.
- The universe is under Their control; They are not subject to its regulations. At Brahmā’s request, They appeared to relieve the world’s burden.
- Without the Lord’s grace, no one can become happy and prosperous. Vidura first asked about the Lord because His devotees’ happiness depends on His happiness.
Try this today
Before pursuing one personal goal today, pause to consider how your action can please the Lord.
Ask yourself
Do I place the Lord’s pleasure before my own hopes for happiness?
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.