Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.2.5
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLove Grows Through Steady Devotional Practice
“It was so observed by Vidura that Uddhava had all the transcendental bodily changes due to total ecstasy, and he was trying to wipe away tears of separation from his eyes. Thus Vidura could understand that Uddhava had completely assimilated extensive love for the Lord.”
What the purport teaches
- Vidura, an experienced devotee, recognized Uddhava’s perfected love of Godhead. Genuine ecstatic bodily changes arise from the spiritual plane, not from artificial practice.
- Devotional service develops from following regulative principles to steady realization and finally ecstasy. Hearing, chanting and remembering begin this process.
- Regular hearing of the Lord’s glories and pastimes washes impurities from the heart. As the heart becomes cleansed, steadiness, faith, taste and realization gradually develop.
Try this today
Spend five minutes hearing the Lord’s glories or pastimes, focusing on attentive hearing rather than producing a feeling.
Ask yourself
Am I giving more attention to regular devotional practice than to outward signs of emotion?
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.