Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.14.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesŚiva’s Greatness Is His Devotion
“Lord Śiva regards no one as his relative, yet there is no one who is not connected with him. He does not regard anyone as very favorable or abominable. We respectfully worship the remnants of his foodstuff, and we vow to accept what is rejected by him.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva is equal to everyone, without favoritism or enmity. His family relationship with Kaśyapa does not excuse an offense.
- Śiva’s greatness rests in his devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Food offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa is prasāda; when a great devotee such as Śiva eats it, the remnants are mahā-prasāda.
- Śiva does not seek material prosperity, although powerful material nature is under his control. He teaches that worship of Viṣṇu is highest, and worship of His great devotee or anything related to Him is greater still.
Try this today
Offer one small, practical service to a devotee today without seeking anything in return.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking material prosperity, or learning to value devotion as Lord Śiva does?
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.