Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.2.27
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLoving Friendship With the Almighty Lord
“In His childhood, the Almighty Lord was surrounded by cowherd boys and calves, and thus He traveled on the shore of the Yamunā river, through gardens densely covered with trees and filled with vibrations of chirping birds.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa tended calves with cowherd boys who had been great ṛṣis and yogīs in previous births. They loved Him as their most intimate friend and eagerly awaited meeting Him each morning.
- The trees, birds and beasts of Vṛndāvana were pious living entities born there to please the Lord and His companions. The gardens beside the Yamunā formed the setting for their joyful activities.
- Although appearing as a boy, Kṛṣṇa remained the Almighty Lord and killed great demons. Lord Caitanya taught that Vṛndāvana is identical with the Lord and therefore worshipable by devotees.
Try this today
Before sleeping tonight, set aside a brief time tomorrow morning to remember Kṛṣṇa’s activities in Vṛndāvana.
Ask yourself
How might the cowherd boys’ eagerness to meet Kṛṣṇa deepen your own desire to remember 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.