Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.15.49
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPraying for Service in Every Condition
“O Lord, we pray that You let us be born in any hellish condition of life, just as long as our hearts and minds are always engaged in the service of Your lotus feet, our words are made beautiful [by speaking of Your activities] just as tulasī leaves are beautified when offered unto Your lotus feet, and as long as our ears are always filled with the chanting of Your transcendental qualities.”
What the purport teaches
- The four sages recognized that they had done wrong by cursing the Lord’s devotees in anger. They humbly prayed that even in a hellish condition, their minds might remain engaged in serving Lord Nārāyaṇa’s lotus feet.
- Devotees are not afraid of any condition of life, provided they can constantly serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their concern is not heaven or hell, but remembering and continuing the Lord’s service.
- Loving service is performed with the body, mind and words; words gain their true value when used to glorify the Lord. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa gives us the opportunity to glorify and hear Him in any condition of life.
Try this today
Today, spend one minute chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and listening attentively, praying that your mind and words may remain engaged in the Lord’s service.
Ask yourself
When circumstances are difficult, do I pray mainly for relief or also for the opportunity to keep 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.