Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.4.34
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotion Opens Understanding of the Lord
“The Lord’s glorious acts and His acceptance of various transcendental forms for the performance of extraordinary pastimes in the mortal world are very difficult for anyone other than His devotees to understand, and for the beasts they are simply a mental disturbance.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord’s transcendental forms and pastimes are difficult for nondevotees to understand. He does not reveal Himself merely through the pursuits of jñānīs and yogīs.
- Envy of the Lord and a spirit of revolt against Him obstruct understanding of the Personality of Godhead. Absorption in material enjoyment does not lead to knowledge of Him.
- Discussing the Lord’s appearance and disappearance in an opposing spirit leads to further offenses. The proper approach is transcendental loving service, not hostility toward the Lord.
Try this today
Before studying today, pause and ask to approach the Lord’s pastimes with respect and a desire to serve Him.
Ask yourself
When I find the Lord’s pastimes difficult to understand, do I respond with respect or resistance?
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.