Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.15.35
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRecognize the Gravity of Offending Devotees
“When the doormen of Vaikuṇṭhaloka, who were certainly devotees of the Lord, found that they were going to be cursed by the brāhmaṇas, they at once became very much afraid and fell down at the feet of the brāhmaṇas in great anxiety, for a brāhmaṇa’s curse cannot be counteracted by any kind of weapon.”
What the purport teaches
- The doormen were certainly devotees of the Lord, yet they made a mistake by stopping the brāhmaṇas.
- The purport states that the greatest offense is to offend a devotee of the Lord. Being devotees themselves, the doormen understood their mistake.
- Recognizing the gravity of the curse, they became terrified and fell at the brāhmaṇas’ feet. No weapon could counteract a brāhmaṇa’s curse.
Try this today
Review one recent interaction with a devotee; if you recognize disrespect in your conduct, offer a sincere apology.
Ask yourself
How readily do you acknowledge a mistake when you have treated a devotee disrespectfully?
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.