Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.19.40
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesServe the Lord, Satisfy Everyone
“After this, Pṛthu Mahārāja took his bath, which is customarily taken after the performance of a yajña, and received the benedictions and due blessings of the demigods, who were very pleased by his glorious activities.”
What the purport teaches
- All yajña is meant to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu. The demigods were pleased with Pṛthu’s activities and gave him blessings.
- Satisfying Lord Viṣṇu automatically satisfies the demigods, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes its branches and leaves.
- A pure devotee does not ask the demigods directly for benedictions. The devotee’s only business is to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Try this today
Offer one act of service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead today without asking for a material reward.
Ask yourself
Is my worship centered on serving the Lord or on obtaining separate benefits?
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.