Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.4.30
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Service Reveals the Supreme Lord
“Now I shall leave the vision of this mundane world, and I see that Uddhava, the foremost of My devotees, is the only one who can be directly entrusted with knowledge about Me.”
What the purport teaches
- Transcendental knowledge includes knowledge of impersonal Brahman, the all-pervading Supersoul and the Personality of Godhead. Specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead has special significance.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is truly known through pure devotional service and no other means. As the foremost devotee, Uddhava received direct instruction so others could benefit after the Lord’s disappearance.
- At Badarikāśrama, the Lord is personally represented by the Nara-Nārāyaṇa Deity. A devotee takes shelter of a recognized temple to advance in transcendental knowledge by the Lord’s grace.
Try this today
Spend five minutes studying this teaching with a prayer for the Lord’s grace to understand Him through devotional service.
Ask yourself
Am I approaching knowledge of the Lord as a matter of devotional service, rather than study alone?
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.