Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.15.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesListen Eagerly to the Lord’s Glories
“When the king of bees hums in a high pitch, singing the glories of the Lord, there is a temporary lull in the noise of the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the cakravāka, the swan, the parrot, the partridge and the peacock. Such transcendental birds stop their own singing simply to hear the glories of the Lord.”
What the purport teaches
- When the king of bees sings the Lord’s glories, the birds stop their own singing to listen.
- Everything in Vaikuṇṭha is spiritual and animate. Trees, ground, flowers, birds and beasts are all on the level of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- The birds prefer hearing the Lord’s glories to enjoying their own sounds. Hearing and chanting, the beginning principles of devotional service, are prominent in Vaikuṇṭha.
Try this today
Listen quietly for a few minutes to someone chanting or speaking the Lord’s glories.
Ask yourself
Do I make room to listen to the Lord’s glories rather than always wanting to speak?
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.