Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.15.50
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Love Reveals the Lord’s Eternal Form
“O Lord, we therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto Your eternal form as the Personality of Godhead, which You have so kindly manifested before us. Your supreme, eternal form cannot be seen by unfortunate, less intelligent persons, but we are so much satisfied in our mind and vision to see it.”
What the purport teaches
- The four sages began their spiritual life as impersonalists. By the grace of their father and spiritual master, Brahmā, they understood the Lord’s eternal, spiritual form and felt completely satisfied.
- Those aspiring to impersonal Brahman or localized Paramātmā still hanker for more. Realizing Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, brings satisfaction in all respects; they become devotees and desire to see His form continually.
- One who develops transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa constantly sees the Lord’s eternal form. The idea that His form comes from contact with māyā prevents devotional vision; the grateful sages instead offered Him respectful obeisances again and again.
Try this today
Offer respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa today, remembering His eternal, spiritual form and expressing your desire to develop devotional love.
Ask yourself
How does understanding that the Lord’s form is eternal and spiritual deepen my desire to serve Him?
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.