Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.25.34
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPure Devotees Desire Service, Not Oneness
“A pure devotee, who is attached to the activities of devotional service and who always engages in the service of My lotus feet, never desires to become one with Me. Such a devotee, who is unflinchingly engaged, always glorifies My pastimes and activities.”
What the purport teaches
- A pure devotee does not aspire for any of the five kinds of liberation, especially merging into oneness. The greatest pleasure is to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Devotees continually think of ways to serve the Lord, even amid great material obstacles. They remain attached to glorifying His pastimes and activities.
- The Lord’s pastimes are historical facts and Absolute Truth, not imaginary stories. Pure devotees relish these transcendental activities, and their bhakti is beyond even the desire for liberation.
Try this today
Choose one description of the Lord’s activities from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and read it today with the intention of glorifying Him.
Ask yourself
What small opportunity to serve the Lord remains available amid my present difficulties?
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.