Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.20.16
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionPure Devotion Brings Forth Good Qualities
“My dear King, I am very captivated by your elevated qualities and excellent behavior, and thus I am very favorably inclined toward you. You may therefore ask from Me any benediction you like. One who does not possess elevated qualities and behavior cannot possibly achieve My favor simply by performance of sacrifices, severe austerities or mystic yoga. But I always remain equipoised in the heart of one who is also equipoised in all circumstances.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Viṣṇu is pleased with Mahārāja Pṛthu's elevated character and behavior and offers him a benediction. Sacrifices, severe austerities and mystic yoga alone cannot win His favor.
- Unalloyed, unflinching devotional service brings out the soul's original good qualities. These qualities become manifest when the soul rises above the material modes of nature.
- A devotee is kind, peaceful, humble, self-controlled and completely attached to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord is satisfied by these transcendental qualities, not by artificial religious performances.
Try this today
Choose kindness today: do one helpful act for someone as part of your devotional service to the Lord.
Ask yourself
Which quality of a devotee would you like to cultivate more carefully in your service to the Lord?
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.